ISLAMABAD: While the government has reopened the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham for a few days, horticulture exporters have urged the government to allow Kinnow exports to the neighboring country.
In a letter to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) has requested the ministry concerned to allow the export of Kinnow to Afghanistan immediately.
As the export of the perishable item has been halted after the lockdown in many importing countries, exporters wish to at least send the stranded consignments to Afghanistan.
According to the letter, exporters can send over 800,000 cartons or 8,000 tonnes of Kinnow to Kabul while availing open border.
“Keeping in view the sincere efforts of the prime minister to enhance exports of Pakistan to provide adequate financial support to our weak economy, we feel it’s the right time to promptly avail a unique opportunity during the time of the worldwide lockdown by exporting 800,000 cartons of Pakistani Kinnow to Afghanistan while the government has opened Torkham border for a few days on humanitarian ground,” said the letter.
“We sincerely anticipate that our genuine and logical request keeping the national interest in view would be a favorable response,” PFVA said.
Head of PFVA Waheed Ahmed says consignments of Kinnow could be exported to Afghanistan when all countries are allowing import of vegetables and fruits despite the lockdown and restrictions after the coronavirus pandemic.
“We must at least continue exporting to Afghanistan and other neighboring countries.
Pakistan has opened the border on a request of the Afghan government to allow its nationals stranded at Chaman and Torkham borders. Hundreds of Pakistanis were also stuck in Spin Boldak and the other side of Torkham.
Meanwhile, the association has also alerted all concerned ministries through a letter that the shipment of Kinnow worth $2.5 million has been stuck in Singapore as the Shipping Company- MSC- is not delivering the consignment on the given date.
The company is further demanding $250,000 extra to take the fruit to destination of Philippine, which according to exporters is unfair, the letter states.
Consignments departed from Karachi in the last week of February were scheduled to reach the Manila North Harbour Port in Philippines within two to three weeks, but they (consignments) have been still laying at the Transshipment Port for the last four to five weeks.
As per the letter, exporters fear that since shipments are of fragile nature and this too much delay can compromise the quality of produce, the association requests the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and others ministries concerned to take notice of the issue and resolve it early.
