Duty Cuts planned to support Construction, Pharma, and Logistics Growth
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani government decided to cut customs duties on specialised vehicles, machinery, and key industrial inputs as part of efforts to support economic growth and strengthen priority sectors, including construction, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. Under the proposed National Tariff Policy 2025–30, PM Shehbaz Sharif approved major reductions in customs duties on specialised vehicles and construction machinery, a move expected to accelerate infrastructure development and investment in the construction industry. The federal government also decided to eliminate customs duties on raw materials used in pharmaceutical production, with special emphasis on inputs required for cancer medicines, signaling a strong push to make critical drugs more accessible and affordable. The policy direction was discussed during the meeting, where the prime minister reiterated that export-led growth remains the government’s top economic priority. He stressed the need for an active and transparent role by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) to promote industrial expansion, trade facilitation, and investment inflows. He further directed the commission to adopt global best practices and integrate modern technologies, including information technology and artificial intelligence, to enhance efficiency and regulatory performance. Officials briefed the meeting on the implementation roadmap of the National Tariff Policy 2025–30, under which tariffs across multiple sectors will be gradually reduced to strengthen export-oriented economic growth. A major breakthrough was also announced for the logistics sector, where duties on reefers, containers, and semi-trailers will be completely removed to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce transport costs. The high-level meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurang