KARACHI: Sheikh Umer Rehan, Chairman of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), has called on the government to temporarily abolish the import duty on edible oil to provide relief to consumers. He warned that the sharp rise in global Edible oil prices—up by $200 per metric ton—has made cooking oil and ghee increasingly unaffordable for the public. Sheikh Umer Rehan emphasized that ghee and edible oil are essential household items, but local prices have soared due to global market trends and import duties. "The recent surge in international prices has significantly impacted the affordability of these staples, hitting low-income households the hardest," he said. Rehan urged the government to temporarily eliminate the duty on Edible oil imports until global prices stabilize. "Immediate action is needed to ensure these essential goods remain accessible to the common man. By lifting the import duty, local prices can be reduced, bringing much-needed relief to consumers," he added. The PVMA chairman stressed that without such measures, the rising cost of essential commodities will continue to burden ordinary citizens, particularly those already struggling to cope with inflation.
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