Following the directives of the federal government, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) has issued import permits for the import of over 16,000 metric tons of tomato to arrest the commodity's skyrocketing prices in the domestic market.

For last one month, the commodity has been witnessing meteoric price hike in the domestic market due to lower crop. Accordingly, on November 14, the federal government in consultation with Ministry of National Food Security (MNFS), Ministry of Commerce and other stakeholders, allowed the import of tomatoes from Iran for a month to control prices.

After the formal approval from the federal government, local importers began importing tomato from Iran to fill the supply and demand gap.

Waheed Ahmed, former chairman Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters and Merchant Association (PFVA) told Business Recorder Saturday that as per the government directive; so far the Department of Plant Protection has issued import permits for import of some 16,100 metric tons tomato from Iran for domestic consumption.

He added that tomato consignments are arriving on a daily basis from Iran and during last one week some 2,242 metric tons of tomato has arrived in Pakistan.

With the arrival of imported tomato, its prices in the domestic market are on the decline. Tomato was trading at Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg in the wholesale market Saturday. The prices will further ease after the arrival of more tomato consignments, Waheed added.

He said that prices of onion have also dropped in the wholesale market, ie, from Rs 2,800 per maund to Rs 2,000 per maund.

Waheed said that Pakistan is facing a serious food security threat due to global warming and climate change. "Our major crops are not performing well due to this phenomenon. Pakistan's wheat crop faces losses due to rains at the harvesting time," he added.

In addition, our cotton crop has also got damaged by 30 percent this year and its production would be 9 million bales against the target of 13 million bales, he maintained. He called for devising a long-term agricultural policy and awareness program for farmers on climate change to get maximum yields.