ISLAMABAD: The government continues to collect significant taxes and duties on essential food items, including potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and eggs, according to official documents.
The details reveal that multiple layers of taxation are being applied across basic commodities. Sugar is subject to 20% customs duty along with an additional 4% duty, while cooking oil, ghee, tea, and sugar face 18% sales tax.
Similarly, powdered milk, processed food, electricity, and gas are also taxed at 18%, while certain medicines are subject to a 1% sales tax.
The document further shows that chicken is taxed with 20% customs duty plus an additional 4%, while eggs carry duties ranging from 3% to 16%, along with separate regulatory duties.
Among staple items, potatoes are subject to 20% regulatory duty, while tomatoes and onions face 5% customs duty each. Wheat and rice are taxed at 10%, and wheat flour at 5%.
Edible oil imports are also heavily taxed, with duties imposed per metric ton along with additional regulatory charges.
Sources say the government has yet to decide whether these taxes will be reduced in the upcoming federal budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, expected to be presented on June 5.
