Islamabad 30 August : In the wake of the rising prices of vegetables in the midst of continuous floods and constant rains from the monsoon across Pakistan the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday urged the government allow the import of vegetables from neighboring India by crossing the Wagah border.LCCI President Nauman Kabir has urged the government to give permission to import food items from India to regulate its prices, Geo News reported.
“The recent flooding has devastated crops of onion, tomato potatoes, and other vegetables throughout the nation,” he said, noting that the situation is expected to continue for the next three to six months.
The vegetable shortage could get worse in the months of September, October, and November he added.
It could take some days to bring vegetables from India to Pakistan via the Wagah border, Geo News reported.
The cost of vegetables have soared as food vendors are demanding exorbitant prices to customers amid the nation-wide floods caused by the torrential rains.
The traders are earning huge profits at a time the death toll caused by the constant monsoon rains has surpassed 1,100 and has caused a $10 billion loss on the economy of the nation.
According to the information According to the report, tomatoes are being offered at 250 PKR per kilogram in the market, whereas the price in its official website is 190 PKR per kilogram.
Similar to this, sellers are selling onions at a price of 300 PKR to 320 PKR per kilogram while the rate for the commodity was set at 290 PKR set by the authorities, Geo News reported.
Potatoes are sold at 120 PKR-140 pounds instead of the official price of 100 PKR for each kilogram.
The official price for ginger is 360 PKR per kilogram however it is sold at 380 PKR per kilogram in the market.
Garlic is available for sale at 250 PKR for a kilogram and its official price is 200 PKR for a kilogram.
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