ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: As the country faces a severe shortage of various vegetables after heavy floods destroyed harvest on the vine on millions of acres, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Monday said government plans allow in duty- free import of vegetables and other edible items from India across the Wagah border to minimize the negative impact of rising inflation on in people.
After announcement, business community voiced his support for offer, but warned government restrict traders to import only raw vegetables, not finished products.
Finance minister mentioned a proposal regarding imports from India in answer to question in news conference to criticize PTI management over alleged audio leak of former finance minister Shaukat Taryn with finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding the IMF program.
When asked what steps in government planned to take over record inflation, Mr. Ismail said: “We are considering duty- free import of vegetables and other edible items”, he said, adding ministries of trade and finance had already consulted on topic and will search prime minister’s approval immediately.
The head of the LCCI proposes to start importing of raw material not finished product, immediately
In his view he said if need to be government would also allow import of vegetables and the like items from India by land route, given the emergency situation, when the price of onions and tomatoes rose many times over of days after flash floods destroyed local crops.
“Start import immediately”
After the announcement merchant community of Lahore sounded optimistic. We believe that import of vegetables from India (Punjab) should be started immediately in request to meet with our demand as well as reduce rising prices of tomatoes, onions and more required vegetables, Lahore Chamber of This was stated by President of Trade and Industry Mian Nauman Kabir. Dawn on Monday. “But government should limit imports to vegetables only and not to their respective prepared products such as tomato ketchup, French fries, onion powder and other products related to vegetables or fruits.”
Moreover, Shehzad Cheema, secretary of the Lahore Market Committee, said that any proposal is being considered. out must be completed immediately. “If a government holds this offer in ambiguity, prices of tomatoes, onions, etc. in coming days as importers bringing them in from Kabul started to slow down down purchases,” he said.
According to Yasir Bhatti, an importer from Lahore currently in Kabul, government should open trade with India, initially receiving tomatoes, onions and other required vegetables. “Currently rate of tomato and onion in Kabul rising due to floods. Moreover, the quality also No good. Therefore we must start import them from india if we want prevent massive increase in their prices are within next 10 days,” he warned.
representative for Trade Development Authority of Pakistan also said Dawn they would implement any decision for import of onion, tomato. “We have not yet received information from the relevant ministry. As soon how we get our fruits and vegetables division will start working on that’s her added.
Published in Dawn, August 30, 2022
