The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced the existing customs duty on the import of air purifiers from 25% to 10%. Additionally, regulatory duty and advance tax on the import of these products have been waived.
This decision follows advice from the environmental advisor to use air purifiers to mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution.
The information comes from a notification signed by NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman on Monday (January 20).
Prior to the waiver, the total tax burden on air purifiers included a 25% customs duty, 3% regulatory duty, 5% advance tax, 5% advance income tax, and 15% VAT, amounting to a total of 53%.
Previously, on December 19, during a discussion with journalists after a meeting at the Power House, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, recommended using masks and air purifiers to protect against the harmful effects of air pollution. She also remarked that it would not be possible to reduce air pollution significantly within a year.
Following this, a directive to reduce import duties was issued to the NBR from the Chief Advisor's office.
