Withdrawal of duty exemption for foreign fast-food chains demanded: The News

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to withdraw a notification which exempts international fast-food chains from 25 per cent regulatory duty on import of potato products, which has adversely affected farmers and local fast-food outlets.

In a statement issued on Monday, LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali said a number of local fast-food chains had approached the Chamber complaining about the SRO providing duty exemption.

“They are extremely hurt, frustrated and disappointed. They say that SRO 106(I)/2006 dated 03-02-2006, which provides exemption to international fast-food chains from the levy of 25 per cent regulatory import duty on potato products, is discrimination against local fast-food chains.”

The LCCI president said it seemed that the government was siding with international chains by providing them the tools and means to unfairly compete and take away the business of local enterprise. The international fast-food chains having almost 30 per cent advantage would offer deals including potato fries to the consumers at a much lower price than local chains because of the unfair advantage provided by the government.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Withdrawal of duty exemption for foreign fast-food chains demanded: The News