Reportedly the pakistan government said it is considering buying tomatoes from iran after its supply was partially hit by the lack of import from india and the prices of the fruit skyrocketed between Rs 180 per kg to Rs 300 per kg in several parts of the country, according to media reports. Meanwhile as per the pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the average maximum national price of tomatoes was Rs 180 per kg, while it was selling as high as Rs 300 per kg in several parts of the country.
Furthermore it said we will consider allowing import of tomatoes from iran, Muhammad Hashim Popalzai, Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security was quoted as saying in the report. Various factors have led to reduction in the supply of tomatoes, including ill-timed government policies and heavy rains which affected its production and perhaps the suspension of trade with india over the kashmir issue has also contributed to rising prices of vegetables in the domestic market.
Earlier pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended trade with india after New delhi revoked special status given to Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover it is estimated that the imports from iran will help compensate till the time new crop of tomatoes and onions will reach the market in the next few weeks from Sindh and the officials in the pakistan government seemed to be totally oblivious to the rise in prices of tomatoes.
