KARACHI: The Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA) has urged the federal government to double the regulatory duty on tomato paste imported from China, increasing it from 20% to 40%.
This step aims to support local farmers, make better use of agricultural produce, and boost investment in the food processing industry.
PFVA head Waheed Ahmed stated that a key reason for the decline in demand for locally grown tomatoes is that many manufacturers prefer importing Chinese tomato paste. This has negatively impacted local farmers and the agriculture sector.
Despite a 20% customs duty and a 20% regulatory duty, Chinese tomato paste remains cheaper than locally produced paste, harming the country’s agriculture. The PFVA has suggested raising the regulatory duty to help local producers compete.
