Former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has criticized the federal government for making expensive imported items cheaper while imposing duties on much needed food items.
In a post on X, the former minister highlighted that Land Cruisers, Range Rovers, imported perfumes and smoked salmon will become cheaper as a result of the recent budget.
He highlighted that on the contrary, the government has decided to impose excise duty on one-day-old chicken, which is the cheapest source of protein in Pakistan.
“Sometimes it is difficult to see what are the priorities of this government other than robbing the poor to pay the elite,” the minister said.
Earlier this week, the government unveiled a major policy change, announcing a substantial cut in restrictive regulatory duties on imports of food, vehicles, and personal care products.
On the other hand, the government has imposed a federal excise duty (FED) of Rs. 10 on day-old chicks, which has alarmed poultry farmers and industry stakeholders.