
National Tariff Policy draft 2025-30 unveiled
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan unveiled the draft National Tariff Policy (NTP) 2025-30 during the National Regulatory Reforms Conference organised by the Board of Investment (BoI).
The conference, aimed at advancing regulatory simplification and industrial competitiveness, brought together federal ministers, diplomats, and private sector representatives for a strategic dialogue on Pakistan's economic direction.
Rana Ihsaan Afzal, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, represented the Ministry of Commerce and delivered the keynote address on the minister's behalf.
In his speech, Afzal underscored the government's strong commitment to rationalising Pakistan's tariff regime, simplifying business processes, and fostering export-led growth. He stated, 'The National Tariff Policy 2025-30 is designed to create a predictable, transparent, and investment-friendly tariff structure. By facilitating duty-free access to raw materials, phasing out Additional Customs Duties (ACDs) and Regulatory Duties (RDs), and supporting nascent and green industries, this policy paves the way for innovation, employment generation, and sustained economic growth.'
The NTP 2025-30 outlined ambitious reform goals, including the phasing out of ACDs in four years, elimination of RDs and the 5th Schedule within five years, and the establishment of a simplified four-slab Customs Duty structure (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%). The policy aims to benefit key sectors including textiles, engineering, pharmaceuticals, and IT, while encouraging investment and reducing production costs across the board.
Rana Afzal highlighted that the implementation will begin with the reduction of tariffs on approximately 7,000 tariff lines, largely focused on raw materials and intermediate goods, yielding an estimated Rs 200 billion in benefits to trade and industry.
'These reforms will enable Pakistan's industries to scale, compete globally, and shift towards higher value-added exports,'
he said.
'With these changes, we anticipate not just stronger GDP growth, but also increased employment, improved industrial productivity, and enhanced investor confidence.'
The conference was also attended by Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, senior officials, diplomats, and leading figures from the private sector. Participants lauded the government's efforts to streamline regulation and modernise trade facilitation, calling the draft policy a significant step toward Pakistan's long-term economic transformation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan recommends US President for Nobel Peace
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Saturday announced its formal decision to recommend US President Donald Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his 'decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership' during the recent four-day war between Pakistan and India. In a statement posted on X, the government highlighted Trump's pivotal role in helping to de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. The post carried the headline: 'Government of Pakistan Recommends President Donald J Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.' The decision from the government comes just three days after President Trump met with Chief of Army Staff and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House, signalling continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations. In the statement, the government outlined the details of the crisis, which saw India's actions described as 'unprovoked and unlawful aggression' against Pakistan. The government emphasised that this aggression violated Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, leading to a tragic loss of innocent lives, including those of women, children, and the elderly. In response to India's actions, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, a measured military operation designed to protect the country's territorial integrity while avoiding civilian casualties. The operation, Pakistan stated, was carried out to assert its 'fundamental right to self-defence' and restore regional deterrence. Amidst rising tensions and the potential for further escalation, President Trump is credited with playing a key role in de-escalating the situation. According to the Government of Pakistan, Trump demonstrated 'great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship' by engaging with both Islamabad and New Delhi diplomatically, helping to secure a ceasefire that prevented the conflict from expanding into a wider and more catastrophic war between two nuclear-armed states. The statement highlighted Trump's intervention as a testament to his role as a 'genuine peacemaker,' underlining his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue. Furthermore, the Government of Pakistan expressed appreciation for Trump's 'sincere offers' to mediate the longstanding dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, a matter that has long fuelled instability in the region. 'Durable peace in South Asia will remain elusive until the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,' the government noted, reaffirming its position on the issue. The post also recognised President Trump's diplomatic legacy, noting that his leadership during the 2025 Pakistan-India crisis exemplified a continuation of his pragmatic approach to diplomacy and peace-building efforts. Concluding the statement, the Government of Pakistan expressed hope that Trump's 'earnest efforts' would continue to contribute to regional and global stability, particularly as tensions persist in the Middle East, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing escalation surrounding Iran. NNI adds: US President Donald Trump said he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Speaking to the media in New Jersey, Trump said the Nobel Committee should award him the prize for his global peace efforts in places such as Rwanda, Congo, Serbia, and Kosovo. 'The big one is India and Pakistan — I should have gotten it four or five times,' Trump remarked. 'But they won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals.'—NNI


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan to recommend Trump for Nobel Peace Prize for ‘decisive diplomatic intervention' in Ind-Pakistan crisis
Pakistan has decided to formally recommend US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and 'pivotal leadership' during the recent India-Pakistan crisis. In a post on X, the Government of Pakistan said, 'President Trump's leadership during the 2025 Pakistan India crisis manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building.' The statement added that the world bore witness to unprovoked and unlawful Indian aggression, which constituted a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including women, children, and the elderly. 'In exercising its fundamental right to self-defense, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos—a measured, resolute, and precise military response, carefully executed to re-establish deterrence and defend its territorial integrity while consciously avoiding civilian harm.' The post added that the US president at a moment of 'heightened regional turbulence', demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi 'which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation, ultimately securing a ceasefire and averting a broader conflict. 'This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker and his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue,' the post read. 'The Government of Pakistan also acknowledges and greatly admires President Trump's sincere offers to help resolve the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan—an issue that lies at the heart of regional instability. Durable peace in South Asia would remain elusive until the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir.' Earlier, the US president in a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states. President Trump commended the Field Marshal's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics. He also expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests,' said the ISPR in a statement.


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
PIA brings 121 nationals from Iran
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) successfully completed its second special rescue flight on Friday, bringing 121 Pakistani nationals safely home from Iran via Azerbaijan's capital city Baku. According to PIA spokesman, the special flight PK-7160 landed at Lahore airport at 3:40 PM, carrying passengers who had been stranded in Iran due to recent airspace restrictions that affected normal flight operations. Due to the closure of Iranian airspace, the stranded Pakistani citizens were required to travel overland to Baku, Azerbaijan, where they boarded the PIA rescue flight for their journey home to Pakistan. The complex evacuation operation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of Pakistani diplomatic missions in both Iran and Azerbaijan, who played crucial roles in facilitating the safe passage of citizens to the departure point in Baku. The special flight was dispatched on direct instructions from the Government of Pakistan, demonstrating the state's commitment to ensuring the welfare of its citizens abroad during challenging circumstances, he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025