Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul on Wednesday rejected reports that Pakistan had increased its customs tariffs by threefold just as pomegranate season was in full swing in Kandahar.

“The government of Pakistan has not implemented any such measure. In fact, from last month, Pakistan is providing 24/7 services on its side of the Torkham border to facilitate rapid distribution of Afghan exports of fruits and vegetables to Pakistani markets,” Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul said in a press release on Wednesday.

This contradicts the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Investments claim on October 13 that Pakistan is charging up to 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($ 1913) per load.

“This is one of the problems: Pakistan has imposed tariffs on pomegranate and grape loads of up to 300,000 Pakistani rupees – which is a threefold increase compared to previous years. We talked to Afghan government officials to help us deal with it, but the challenge has not yet been overcome,” said Nasrullah Zahir, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce.