LAHORE: The Punjab government has imposed infrastructure development tax on import of vaccines that help control childhood illness, disability and mortality under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
However, the federal government has showed grave concern over the imposition of tax and fears the decision will have a devastating impact on the vaccination programme.
Currently, the tax is being collected at a fixed rate of 0.90pc of the total value of the goods as assessed for the Customs purpose which will be used for maintenance, development and improvement of infrastructure in the province.
A large quantity of vaccines including poliomyelitis, neonatal tetanus, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (Whooping Cough), Hepatitis-B, pneumonia, meningitis, childhood tuberculosis, besides logistics (syringes, safety boxes, refrigerators) is being donated by international health partners such as Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) through UNICEF to vaccinate 6.9 million children of Pakistan free of cost each year.
