ISLAMABAD May 12: The treasury side in the National Assembly on Thursday defended government’s step of allowing the private sector duty free import of potato, onion, tomato and livestock to meet shortage and arrest price hike.

Speaking on a call-attention notice moved by MNAs Fauzia Wahab, Syed Naveed Qamar, Khalid Iqbal Memon and Yasmin Rehman, the Minister of State for Finance, Omar Ayub, informed the house that the government had taken the step in good faith to beat vested interests who stocked these items to create an artificial shortage.

He said the move would not hurt farming community’s interests.

The movers strongly opposed the step and said it was aimed at harming the growers interests. They said 45.9 per cent population depended on agriculture and livestock and the step taken by the government would add to their woes.

They apprehended dumping of sub-standard vegetables and disease-ridden livestock from the neighbouring countries.