ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Pakistan has imported 3,121 tons of garlic, potatoes and tomatoes from India since May 2005 through the land route of Waghah border. Official figures available with Dawn showed that only 250 animals were so far imported through the same route.

The government in May last allowed import of garlic, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and livestock from India through Waghah border to arrest the constant rise in prices of the commodities in the local market.

The harsh quarantine procedural requirement of the Indian government, however, discouraged the import of the livestock as the importers would have to clear their livestock from New Delhi quarantine office before exporting to Pakistan.

This clearance of animals took a week which resulted into losing of weights by the animal during the course of time, said one official of the ministry of agriculture.

According to the statistics, Pakistan so far imported 3,072 tons of garlic from India since May 1 to October 31, 2005. Of these 644 tons imported in May, 419 tons in July, 433 tons in August, 1,217 tons in September and 359 tons in October, respectively.

From May to October, only 35 tons of potatoes were imported from India. While only 14 tons of tomatoes were imported during the same period.