Lahore, Aug 28 (PTI) The Pakistan government may import tomatoes and onions from India amid a sharp jump in the prices of various vegetables and fruits due to devastating floods that lashed Pakistan’s Lahore and other parts of Punjab province. The wholesale traders of the market gave this information.
Jawad Rizvi, a wholesaler in Lahore market, told PTI, “Tomato and onion were priced at Rs 500 and Rs 400 a kg respectively in Lahore markets on Sunday.
However, in Sunday markets, other vegetables including tomatoes and onions were available at Rs 100 per kg less than the regular markets.
He said that the prices of food items will increase further in the coming days as the supply of vegetables from Balochistan, Sindh and South Punjab has been severely affected due to floods.
Rizvi said, “In the coming days, the price of onion and tomato may cross Rs 700 per kg. Similarly, the price of potato has increased from Rs 40 a kg to 120 kg.
It is learned that the government is considering the option of importing onions and tomatoes from India through the Wagah border. At present, tomatoes and onions are being supplied from Afghanistan through Torkham border in Lahore and other cities of Punjab.
Shahzad Cheema, secretary of the Lahore Market Committee, said that due to the floods, there has also been a shortage of vegetables like capsicum in the market. Cheema said that the government can import onions and tomatoes from India.
He said that importing vegetables from Iran through Taftan border (Balochistan) is not as easy as the Iranian government has increased the tax on imports and exports.
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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