An important meeting regarding the current situation about the potato export which is going to be started formally in the first week of February was held today in Ministry of Commerce. Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan, Advisor on commerce and industries Razzak Dawood, Federal secretary Food Security Mr. Hashim popalzai were present in the meeting along with other senior officials from both the Ministries. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that the Ministry of Food security is exhausting all possible options to dispel the apprehensions of potato growers and our basic focus is to facilitate the export of potato and he also said that the export will start soon with potential increase this year around. In the meeting various options were discussed to facilitate the smooth export and also address the issues of potato farmers. It is pertinent to mention that Ministry of National Food Security is setting up a facilitation center in Okara (Punjab) for the farmers/ exporters prior to the start of export. Federal Secretary Mr. Hashim popalzai apprised that we are negotiating with stakeholders and different options are being considered. It was proposed in the meeting that Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) may procure a considerable quantity from the growers to provide relief. The purpose of this would be to facilitate the potato growers and eschew the crisis situation. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that we are negotiating with the provincial agriculture department (s) and there is another option regarding the provision of cold storage facility to the potato growers /farmers by the provincial government. These aforementioned options are under negotiation and after the deliberations, one or both of them will be finalized. The basic purpose for the procurement of potato by the government is to directly benefit the growers and the Federal Minister for Food Security and Research assured that there should not be any uncertainty among them as our efforts are targeted towards the ultimate benefit to the farmers. The Ministry ensures that there is no tax imposed on the export of potato and for the purpose FBR has been consulted to facilitate the export of potato. Moreover the issue of Afghan duty is under negotiation and concerned quarters are approached for the reduction of Afghan tax on potato export.
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