Pak to import vegetables from India due to crop loss

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has allowed import of vegetables from India, amongst other countries, in a bid to tackle a sharp rise in its prices following the destruction of agricultural fields due to floods.

The Commerce Ministry here has issued a notification to amend the Import Policy Order of 2009 to allow the import of vegetables.

Among the items whose import will be allowed through the Wagah land border are green chilli, capsicum, cabbage, radish, ladyfinger, cauliflower, ginger and carrot.

Officials said the floods that devastated large parts of Pakistan earlier this year had submerged agricultural fields and destroyed thousands of acres of crops.

The government feared that prices of vegetables would rise due to a rising gap between demand and supply and thus allowed the import of vegetables.

The move will help prevent a shortage of vegetables and curb inflation, officials said.

They acknowledged that Pakistan will lose foreign exchange on the import of vegetables.

About 42 importers had approached the Commerce Ministry to get exclusive rights for vegetable imports, officials said.

Payment for imports will be made in accordance with procedures, including those for acquisition of letters of credit from specified banks, laid down by the State Bank of Pakistan.

The move to permit vegetable imports from India was vetted by the Law Ministry.

The Business Recorder daily quoted its sources as saying that Pakistan is also considering the expansion of the positive list as the business community is pressing the government to allow the import of raw materials from India.