The move comes as importers over the last few months have been using a policy flaw to source plain gold jewellery from Indonesia without paying any import taxes.

The South Asian country, among importers hit by disruption to Ukrainian and Russian grain exports, has been exploring ways to import the grain since its biggest supplier India banned export of the grain in May.

Pakistan is one of the world's top importers of tea, with the value of imports during the July 2020-June 2021 fiscal year at US$580.5 million.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the importation of food is now open to all, to ensure adequate supply in the country.

The government unveiled the plan in its official gazette after earlier this month agreeing with businesses to increase production of staples such as corn, rice and beans to control inflation, which is at an over two-decade high.