Tomato prices skyrocket in Pakistan; Imran eyes imports from Iran

According to media reports that emerged on Wednesday, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government was considering a possibility of buying tomatoes from Iran. The tomato prices in Pakistan increased after its supply was partially affected due to a lack of imports from India. The tomatoes in Pakistan are currently sold between Rs 180 per kg to Rs 300 per kg.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the average maximum national price of tomatoes was Rs 180 per kg, and it was being sold at Rs 300 per kg across multiple regions of Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper reported.

“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.

“We will think over it and make a decision in the meeting,” Popalzai said while adding that he will be meeting the importers, stated the report. 

Not just imports but multiple factors have affected the low supply of tomatoes, including Pakistan's government policies and the heavy rains which affected the crop. Apart from this, the suspension of trade with India over the issue of Kashmir has also been a reason for the rising vegetable prices in the Pakistani domestic market. A partial reason for the supply gap has also been the lack of imports from Wagah border from India, the report said.

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Pak's economic turmoil

Pakistan has been embroiled in economic turmoil for much of Imran Khan's time as Prime Minister, and has attempted to amp the rhetoric against India in an attempt to draw the focus away. If reports are to be believed, then it can be 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 the Sindh region.

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(With inputs from PTI)