KARACHI: Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) President, Ismail Suttar, has demanded the government to resume exports of dry dates to India after the successful opening of Wagah Border under the Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement, which allows transit trade for Afghanistan to India.
In a statement, EFP president said that Pakistan is one of the top countries growing fresh dates and holds the fifth position in global dates’ production. “Over the years, India became the top importer of dry dates that earned Pakistan $92 million of valuable export earning in 2018,” he added.
“An astounding 95.6 percent of dry dates’ exports were directed towards India just two years back. However, bilateral trade with India has worsened, which has adversely affected the livelihood of farmers, exporters, and related employees,” he remarked.
He further said, “The situation in Balochistan and Khairpur is particularly dire because this region contributes 92 percent of the total dates’ production of the country.”
“50 percent dates are cultivated in Balochistan and 42 percent in Khairpur. The absence of the Indian market is threatening the optimal use of dry dates for trade purposes,” he opined.
EFP president also said that the harvesting season for dates falls between July to September. “Therefore, the necessity of relevant national policy and interventions are deeply felt to ensure that Pakistan does not lose out on potential export earnings, which can positively impact the current account deficit and support hardworking farmers and exporters,” he added.
Ismail Suttar demanded the government to resume exports of dry dates to India, said that to counter the recessionary pressure of the ongoing pandemic, one of the initiatives by the government should be to export dry dates to India that will provide employment and earning opportunities to the local population.