Government Reduces Import Duty on Dates Ahead of Ramadan

In preparation for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, the government has reduced the import duty on dates by 40%. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced this decision on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in a bid to keep the price of dates affordable for the public during Ramadan.

According to the notification, the customs duty on dates has been slashed from 25% to 15%, with the new rate effective from December 23, 2025. This relief will remain in place until March 31, 2026. The move is aimed at ensuring the steady supply of dates and stabilizing their market price during Ramadan, when demand typically rises.

Additionally, the government has revised the advance income tax regulations in the current budget, reducing the rate from 10% to 5% for the import of dates and other fruits. The 50% exemption on advance income tax granted for date imports last year has also been extended this year.

With these significant reductions in both import duty and advance income tax, the NBR believes that the supply and pricing of dates during Ramadan will remain within the purchasing power of ordinary consumers.