PESHAWAR: Due to imposition of new Regulatory Duty on various imported goods from Afghanistan, the prices of dry fruits and cashew nuts (Kaju) increased in the local market of Peshawar while the retailers await release of stranded containers of winter season to maintain the prices normal.
The imposition of Regulatory Duty on 731 imported items have further pushed the business community to increase the prices of these items, ultimately putting an extra burden on the common man.
The traders of Afghanistan are not ready to send perishable goods at old prices as, according to them, old prices will result in heavy loss due to the imposition of these new duties.
Talking to Custom Today, a dry fruit merchant Suliman Khan told CT that they are using the old goods while their new order did not reach Peshawar due to imposition of Regulatory Duty. He said there is no fresh variety of cashew nuts (Kaju) in all over Peshawar and its prices increased up to 80 percent due to imbalance in supply and demand.
He added that old items are almost over and they will eagerly wait for the new supply from Afghanistan which has been disrupted by the imposition of new regulatory duty. He said if this trend continues, the prices of almond and pistachio (Pista) will also touch the sky which will be beyond the access to a common man.
Director Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi said Pakistan government is responsible for the overall situation and imposing new regulatory duty will badly affect the trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said the prices of perishable items will have direct impact on poor masses and they would ultimately purchase them at exorbitant prices. The new duty will also disturb the demand and supply chain as the traders would not agree to accept these new regulations.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) President Zahidullah Shinwari has also expressed concern over the recently-imposed regulatory duty on imported items and said it would not only increase the prices of consumer goods but also promote smuggling in the country thus reducing the government’s revenues.
The business community has warned that if government didn’t withdraw the regulatory duty on imported items then all chambers and business community of the province would start agitation and the federal government would be responsible for its effects.
