A number of traders of fresh fruits on Sunday said the National Unity Government (NUG) has been unable to resolve problems around the export of Afghanistan’s fresh fruits to Pakistan.
The traders said around 70 percent of their fresh fruits, especially apples, that have been kept in cold rooms will soon spoil.
They said although Pakistan produce is coming into Afghanistan without any problems, their produce is not getting across the border.
“Our traders bought apples at high prices and now they are selling it at a big loss,” said Sayed Ishaq, a trader.
“Goods come from Pakistan, but we do not export to Pakistan. We want this problem to be resolved,” Ahmad Shah Jan, another trader said.
“There are lots of apples with the farmers, because they all cannot be sold here,” said Abdulalh, another trader.
Officials from the commerce and industries ministry meanwhile said they have discussed the issue with Pakistani officials and they have committed themselves to addressing the problem.
“The quarantine certificates are not applied only on Afghan goods, but also applied on Pakistanis. In our discussions, they have promised to allow Afghan goods to enter Pakistan for a period of time (without that certificate),” commerce ministry spokesman Musafir Quqandi said.
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) meanwhile said they had sent a delegation to Pakistan to discuss the issue with Pakistani officials. According to them, Pakistan has opened the crossing for Afghan traders to export goods to India through Pakistan, but Pakistan does not allow Afghanistan’s fresh fruits and vegetables to be sold on its markets due to the lack of quarantine certificates.
“From now our fruits can be exported to India through Pakistan, but Pakistan itself does not allow our fruits on its markets due to two reasons: First we have to have that quarantine certificate, and second, they claim that the apples we export are Iranian apples,” ACCI deputy spokesman Khan Jan Alokozay said.
ACCI officials said if government does not resolve the issue of certificates with Pakistan the problem will only get worse.