Tit for tat: Exporters angry over trade barriers

“Pakistan has better quality citrus and potatoes ... but our hands are tied up,” says Abdul Wahid.

KARACHI: The one-way trade of fruits and vegetables into Pakistan from India and Iran poses a major threat to Pakistani growers and exporters, says Abdul Wahid, former chairman of the Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association. He complained that agriculture exports to both the bordering countries remain suspended due to various non-tariff barriers (NTBs) employed by both the countries. “Pakistan has better quality citrus and potatoes ... but our hands are tied up,” complained Wahid. He said that whenever we ask our Indian and Iranian counterparts to open letters of credit for imports of green produce, they say their government has yet to grant them an import licence for Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2013.

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