Pakistan’s cement exports to Afghanistan slump

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s cement exports to Afghanistan have nosedived by 350 percent in February, a media report said on Saturday.

The massive decline comes after Pakistan legalised the settlement of select items with Afghanistan in the local currency.

The News reported cement exports to Afghanistan declined to 40,902 tonnes in February 2022 from 186,595 tonnes in the corresponding month last year.

Last month, Pakistan allowed exports of 14 trade items, including cement, to Afghanistan in rupees by amending the 2020 Export Policy Order.

The other items are rice, fish, poultry, meat, sugar confectionary and bakery products, fruits, nuts and other edible parts of plants, oilcake, solid residues, vegetables, salt, pharmaceuticals, matches, textile, building stones and surgical instruments.

These exports are not entitled to zero-rating of sales tax on taxable goods, rebate of central excise duty and payment of customs duty drawbacks.

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