Rs 10 billion saved in foreign exchange saved by not importing tomatoes

Pakistan saved foreign exchange worth Rs 10 billion during the period of July to November 2017 by not importing tomatoes from the neighbouring country while the step also encouraged the local farmers. This was observed at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Price Control chaired by the Punjab Minister for Food Bilal Yaseen here on Wednesday.
The Minister termed it as a blessing in disguise and added that encouraged by government policy cultivators of Sindh even have sowed tomatoes in Rabi season too. Referring to figures in briefing by Punjab Agriculture Department the provincial minister said that ban on Indian imports has put positive impact on local growers. India used to export low quality potatoes to Pakistan, although Pakistani potato and onion are considered of good quality and have demand worldwide. After increase in supply from Sindh prices of tomatoes in Punjab have gradually decreased, last year in December whole sale rate of tomatoes was Rs 58 per kg and now it is Rs 59 per kg, he claimed.
The Cabinet Committee agreed in principle with the suggestion by MPA Abdul Rauf Mughal that wheat growers should be encouraged to cultivate edible crops too so that burden on consumption of foreign exchange on import of the same could be lightened. Bilal Yaseen while taking notice of price hike of onion has directed all deputy commissioners to activate price magistrates to ensure that there is not considerable difference in whole sale and retail prices.