Pakistan resumes tomato import; traders relieved

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 29

The trading community has heaved a sigh of relief as the Pakistani authorities have finally resumed imports of perishables after declining to accept tomato imports via the Attari-Wagah land route for a few days. 

Exporter Rajdeep Uppal confirmed the tomato exports to Pakistan were back on track as around 50 truckloads of tomatoes crossed over to Pakistan on Thursday and they expected the same today. He said the change in Pakistani stand came apparently after pressure from the importers on their side. 

He, however, said the import had been resumed with a rider that they would only accept “good quality produce” while there was no condition earlier. He said the demand of perishable items like tomatoes would further increase in Pakistan in the coming days. Sources at the Integrated Check Post in Attari also confirmed that tomato exports to Pakistan had restarted. 

Pakistan had stopped accepting tomato imports from India citing some “quarantine issues”. Prior to it, it had declined to accept onions from India attributing it to similar reasons. Incidentally, Pakistan continues to stick to its stand vis-à-vis onion imports.