Pakistan’s National Tariff Commission (NTC), the body that probes unfair trade practices on imports, has set a provisional NTC pharmaceutical duty of 9.03 percent on Alu Alu Foil packaging material originating in or exported from China. The levy lasts four months from publication of the notice and follows a preliminary finding that dumped shipments injured the local industry.
The duty applies to Cold Forming Foil and Tropical Foil listed under Pakistan Customs Tariff codes 7607.1990 and 7607.2000. The product is aluminium layered with specialised polymers such as Oriented Polyamide Film (OPA) and/or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). It is used to make blister packs that shield tablets and capsules from humidity, oxygen, heat and light.
Why the commission acted
The NTC opened the anti-dumping investigation on 23 July 2026 after Zenith Packages Industries (Pvt.) Limited of Lahore applied under the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015. Investigators examined whether Chinese exports were sold in Pakistan below normal value and whether that trade harmed domestic producers.
In its preliminary determination, the commission said the investigated goods arrived at dumped prices and that those imports caused material injury. It pointed to a sharp rise in dumped volumes, plus price undercutting, depression and suppression. It also reported falls in the domestic industry’s market share, sales, production, productivity, capacity use, profits, profitability and return on investment, with negative effects on inventories, salaries and wages, growth and the ability to raise capital.
How the 9.03 percent rate was set
Under Section 43 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, the NTC imposed a provisional duty to limit further injury while the case continues. Rather than match the full dumping margin, it applied a lesser rate equal to the injury margin, judging that 9.03 percent would be enough for the period under review.
Dumping was assessed from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Injury was reviewed from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. One Chinese exporter and foreign producer, Yangzhou Jerel Pharmaceutical New Material Co. Ltd., answered the exporter questionnaire; the commission used that information for a preliminary individual dumping margin.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2026: Period used to assess material injury to the domestic industry.
- 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026: Period used to determine whether dumping occurred.
- 23 July 2026: NTC starts the anti-dumping investigation on Zenith Packages’ application.
- Preliminary notice (publication date): Provisional 9.03 percent duty imposed for four months on China-origin Alu Alu Foil under the listed PCT codes.
- Within 15 days of publication: Registered interested parties may request a hearing in writing to the Secretary, NTC, Islamabad.
- Within 180 days of publication: NTC must issue its final determination.
The NTC pharmaceutical duty remains provisional until that final decision. Any lasting change to import costs for blister-pack foil will depend on what the commission concludes after hearings and further review.
Aasan alfaaz mein
NTC ne China se aane wali Alu Alu Foil par 9.03 percent temporary duty laga di hai. Ye foil dawaiyon ke blister packs banane ke kaam aati hai. Duty char mahine ke liye hai, jab tak poori investigation khatam nahi hoti. Abhi yeh seedha dawai ki qeemat nahi batata, lekin packaging ka import mehnga ho sakta hai jab tak final faisla nahi aata.
