Islamabad, May 17:

Pakistan is likely to slap 15 per cent regulatory duty (RD) on sugar exports, transported mainly to Afghanistan through legal channels, according to an official source.

“We have recommended to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet to immediately impose 15 per cent RD on sugar exports to discourage exports to Afghanistan,” the source said. The ECC in its meeting on May 22 will consider the proposal, submitted by the Central Board of Revenue.

Sources said about 5,200 tonnes of sugar is exported to Afghanistan per month and the total commodity exported to Kabul during the last five months amounted to 26,000 tonnes. The government is reportedly spending foreign exchange on import of refined and raw sugar at zero duty from different countries, including India, to meet domestic requirements.