Pakistan allows Afghanistan to import wheat from India
Pakistan has allowed Afghanistan to import wheat from India through its territory in response to a request from Kabul.
By PTI |
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed Afghanistan to import wheat from India through its territory in response to a request from Kabul.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani allowed the imports after Kabul requested permission from Islamabad, Food and Agriculture Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly last night.
Afghanistan had made a request for importing wheat from India via Pakistan several years ago and Gillani had agreed in principle to allow imports through the Wagah border during his meeting with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Dawn newspaper quoted sources as saying.
The move was prompted by the smuggling of 1.7 million tonnes of wheat from Pakistan to neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan, during the current fiscal. The smuggling had created a flour shortage within Pakistan, the sources said.
The sources said Pakistan was apprehensive about possible repercussions of this decision for domestic consumers as Indian wheat is reportedly infected by a disease.
Food and Agriculture Minister Khan told the National Assembly that the government has decided to establish a strict system to monitor the smuggling of wheat into Afghanistan.
Pakistan is ready to meet Afghanistan's wheat demand but the neighbouring country has to stop its smuggling, he said.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani allowed the imports after Kabul requested permission from Islamabad, Food and Agriculture Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly last night.
Afghanistan had made a request for importing wheat from India via Pakistan several years ago and Gillani had agreed in principle to allow imports through the Wagah border during his meeting with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Dawn newspaper quoted sources as saying.
The move was prompted by the smuggling of 1.7 million tonnes of wheat from Pakistan to neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan, during the current fiscal. The smuggling had created a flour shortage within Pakistan, the sources said.
The sources said Pakistan was apprehensive about possible repercussions of this decision for domestic consumers as Indian wheat is reportedly infected by a disease.
Food and Agriculture Minister Khan told the National Assembly that the government has decided to establish a strict system to monitor the smuggling of wheat into Afghanistan.
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Pakistan is ready to meet Afghanistan's wheat demand but the neighbouring country has to stop its smuggling, he said.
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