Pakistan Poultry Association's former chairman Abdul Basit has urged the Federal Finance Minister to withdraw 15 percent import duty from grandparent. The PPA former chief in a statement on Wednesday also urged the government to withdraw 10 percent duty and 10 percent sales tax on soyabean which is basic raw material for the poultry industry. The proposed tariff rate would push the input cost up that would increase prices of chicken meat and allied products to deprive the masses of a cheap source of protein.
He said poultry is one of the largest industries of the country that is not only a bigger source of revenue for the government but also providing employment to the millions of workers. The imposition of duty on raw materials would badly affect the poultry business. It is very unfortunate that instead of widening tax base and bringing the untaxed sectors into the tax net, existing taxpayers are being burdened, he added. Abdul Basit said that at a time when poultry industry is looking for a relief package, it is being pushed to the wall by imposition of duty and tax on its raw material. He urged the Federal Finance Minister to extend agriculture sector like facilities to this vital industry.