Government facilitates potato exports

Eyeing Afghanistan, has already tapped Russian market

LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed has said that exporting potatoes to Russia has helped stabilise prices in the local market, adding that Pakistan needs to look at more markets to earn foreign exchange revenue.

Presiding over a meeting to review the production and export of potato, Javed said that the government is in talks with Afghan authorities as it looks to persuade them to remove import duty on the commodity. He said that a total of 96,585 tons has been exported to Russia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

“The government is providing all possible facilities for the export of potatoes, which will continue without any additional duty or tax,” said Javed.

The meeting was informed that Punjab has a capacity of exporting 0.3 million tons of potatoes this year. “Our top priority is to ensure that the farmer’s interest is protected and they are getting the direct benefit of potato exports.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th,  2016.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.