Government economists are being advised to review budget plans to impose a five per cent duty on soybeans and other poultry raw material imports to 2015, reports the Pakistan Observer.

Raza Khursand, Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association (Northern Zone) expressed his concern over the imposition of five per cent levy on import of raw material, five per cent duty on import of soybean meal and five per cent sales tax, describing them as 'unjustified'.

He said that in all developed and under-developed countries including neighbouring India, there is no taxation on food items and even in Pakistan, the agriculture sector is exempted from tax.

But the Pakistani poultry industry is paying taxes in spite of being a component of the agriculture sector.

He added that poultry industry, presently is providing 1.5 million job opportunities annually and if government does not consider the request, it would create hardships for poultry farmers.

He said if government intends to provide chicken and eggs to people on cheaper prices, it is imperative to withdraw the proposed taxes on poultry industry.

He requested the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Finance, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, to reconsider the proposal of poultry taxation and duties on poultry raw material import.