Iran Lifts Ban on Import of Wheat, Fruit from Pakistan
Iran had placed the ban on wheat in 2001 saying that wheat was hazardous to health as it had fungus, while the ban on mangoes and Kinnos was placed in 2000 on the plea that both the fruits should be transported to Iran in refrigerators, which Pakistan could not afford, said the official, Daily Times reported.
However, now this ban has been lifted, and the Iranian commercial counselor in Islamabad has formally informed the secretary of ministry of commerce Kamal Afsar about the decision, he added. “We have sent an appreciation letter to brotherly country for lifting the ban and have expressed interest in exporting wheat, mangoes and Kinnos,” he said.
According to the source, Iran has also shown interest in importing 22,000 tons of rice from Pakistan, and in this regard the commerce ministry has informed the rice traders. Also, Iran has asked for five kilogram of Pakistani as sample to confirm that it is disease free.
“The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (MinFAL) would send the sample to Iran within the next seven days after verifying the specifications from the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Lahore,” said the source.
But a senior MinFAL official, who requested not to be named, said the that the quality of the Pakistani commodities was up to the mark in 2000 and 2001, and that Iran had imposed the ban as a policy against the then government’s support to Taliban. “Since the situation has changed now, Iran has come up with a new policy to ensure maximum trade with Pakistan,” he said.
Further, he said that the Iran also wants to boost trade with the regional countries and the ECO member states, keeping in view the upcoming WTO challenges. “The country’s requirement of wheat stands at 20 million tons and this season we have produced 19.7 million tons, in addition to a carryover stock of one million tons,” said Dr Muhammad Hanif, the agriculture development commissioner. “At present 700,000 tons wheat is surplus, however, at least 500,000 tons of this surplus stock should be kept to meet any emergency situation,”
Therefore, according to Hanif, the country can export only 200,000 tons of wheat this season.
During May 2002 and November 17 2o02, Pakistan exported 30,740 tons of wheat to Iraq through Trading Corporation of Pakistan, but in 2002-03, the country could not export wheat because of the tense relations between Iraq and the United States, said a source.
The country also exported 50,000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan, which includes 33,097 tons in 2002 and 16,903 in till June 30 this year.