Govt bans import of ‘luxury items’ to fight economic crisis

For the first time in Pakistan, luxury or non-essential commodities have been completely banned in the country to help the nation emerge from its financial crisis. Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed the economic strategy established by the federal government on Thursday.

The Information Minister stated that this is an emergency situation and Pakistanis will have to make sacrifices under the economic plan. This will have a quick impact on foreign reserves. The ban will have an impact of $6 billion.

Aurangzeb went on to say that the government’s priority was to cut imports, thus it was going to implement an export-oriented policy that would help local industry and producers.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is working “day and night” to stabilise the economy, according to the information minister, and has decided to ban the import of all commodities that are not in common use.

Food, decorating, and luxury automobiles were among the imports, according to Aurangzeb, who emphasised that the country was in a “difficult economic condition” as a result of the previous government’s policies.

Here’s a detailed list of banned goods:

1. Cars
2. Mobile phones
3. Home appliances
4. Private weapons and ammunition
5. Fruits and dry fruits (except Afghanistan)
6. Crockery
7. Shoes
8. Chandeliers and lighting (except energy savers)
9. Headphones and loudspeakers
10. Sauces, ketchup etc.
11. Doors and window frames
12. Travelling bags and suitcases
13. Sanitary ware
14. Fish and frozen fish
15. Carpets (except Afghanistan)
16. Preserved fruits
17. Tissue paper
18. Furniture
19. Shampoos
20. Confectionary
21. Luxury mattresses and sleeping bags
22. Jams and jelly
23. Cornflakes
24. Bathroom ware/toiletries
25. Heaters/blowers
26. Sunglasses
27. Kitchenware
28. Aerated water
29. Frozen meat
30. Juices
31. Pasta etc
32. Ice cream
33. Cigarettes
34. Shaving goods
35. Luxury leather apparel
36. Musical instruments
37. Saloon items like hairdryers etc.
38. Chocolates

The declaration, according to the information minister, is part of the present government’s fiscal plan to combat the PTI’s incompetent policies.

Aurangzeb chastised the PTI for criticising the incumbent administration over the country’s economic woes, claiming that the Imran Khan-led government had raised inflation, taken historic debts, committed “economic terrorism,” and manipulated the economy by subsidising gasoline prices.

By subsidising the price of petroleum goods, the PTI administration broke its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the Information Minister.

Via: Geo