The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has withdrawn central excise duty on paints/varnishes, syrups, squashes and juices.
The CBR has also introduced price and duty adjustments on cigarettes and un-manufactured tobacco.
In order to encourage housing and construction industry, removal of presently applicable 10 percent excise duty is proposed. This measure will help reduce the cost of construction, particularly for low-income groups.
To encourage agro-based industry and to allow cheaper access to healthy and hygienic drinks, it is proposed to remove excise duty applicable at the rate of 10 percent on fruit juices, syrups and squashes. This measure will increase the demand for fruits and lead to increased production of such agro-based products.
The prices of cigarettes remained stagnant over last couple of years. Duty and price structure on cigarettes is being re-adjusted enabling the manufacturers to enhance the prices of cigarettes, marginally resulting into better revenue yields.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004

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