KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the government to reduce import duty on skimmed milk, whey milk and fat-filled milk from the existing 25% to 15% in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2015-16.
KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, while exchanging views with a delegation of milk powder importers and processors, led by former KCCI president Haroon Agar, said that the government must consider this demand in order to bring down the prices of this important household commodity with a view to provide relief to the masses who are already overburdened because of inflation.
He was of the opinion that besides providing relief to the masses, the reduction in import duty of skimmed milk, whey milk and fat-filled milk would also help in dealing with smugglers who use illegal channels including the Afghan Transit Trade to supply this household product in the Pakistani markets.
“Smuggling of this essential commodity not only allows the undocumented economy to flourish but also causes severe losses to the national exchequer,” he added.