AMRITSAR: In a retaliatory move against export of onions to India through land route, the Amritsar-based vegetable exporters Friday refused to send trucks carrying tomatoes and other vegetables to Pakistan via Attari-Wagah land route.
“Today, we will not export vegetables to Pakistan because Pakistan government has put a ban on onion export to India,” vegetable trader Anil Mehra said according to Indian media.
This decision was taken today collectively by about 40 vegetables exporters based at Amritsar. “We took this decision because when we needed vegetables (onion), Pakistan has simply banned the export of essential item,” he said adding that the traders were not bothered about the losses which they would face because of not sending vegetables to neighboring country.
Almost 70 trucks carrying vegetables including tomatoes, ginger, chilies have been withheld by vegetable exporters and were not sent for customs clearance.
“So far, no truck carrying vegetables including tomatoes has crossed over to Pakistan through land route though five to six trucks containing soybean (animal feed) have moved to neighboring country,” a senior official of Customs Department at Amritsar said.
India is a major exporter of vegetables to Pakistan as out of total export via land route, 30-32 percent account for tomatoes alone. Besides, soybean has a share of 55 per cent and remaining with chilly, ginger, potatoes, capsicum, biscuits, raw cotton, etc. – Agencies
India is urging Pakistan to resume onion exports to help ease the strain of rocketing food prices.
Onion prices have nearly doubled in recent weeks in India, after unseasonable rains this year damaged crops in Maharashtra. Prices for milk, fruit and fish have also shot up. Overall, food inflation hit 18 percent last month, its highest level in a year.
Pakistan is also struggling with food inflation, and on Wednesday ordered a ban on land shipments of onions to India.
Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna said Friday the government was in talks with Pakistan to resume shipments.
No comment was immediately available from Pakistan's Commerce Ministry. –AP
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