Agri, poultry sector get many relief measures in budget

ISLAMABAD: The federal government in the budget for the year 2017-18 has announced many relief measures for the agricultural and poultry farming sector.

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in his budget speech proposed elimination of 5% regulatory duty and reduction in custom duty from 11% to 3% on import of ‘grand stock’ and ‘parent stock’ of chicken.

The government has also proposed reduction in custom duty on import of ‘hatching eggs’ from 11% to 3%. “Such measures will help in reducing cost of inputs and promotion of the poultry sector,” Ishaq Dar said.

He said the government was also making efforts for promoting machine farming sector so that agricultural production could be enhanced. He also proposed doing away with 3% custom duty on import of upto five-year old and used harvesters while continuing the same facility for new brand combined harvesters.

The minister also proposed exemption in custom duty on import of ostrich. “Such measures will help in increasing quantity of protein in food and enhancing import of meat.