Traders say tomato crisis could have been avoided if imported on time

•  The wholesale price of tomatoes has exceeded Rs200 per kilogram for the first time in the country’s history.\
• Traders have demanded the govt to abolish Article 144 imposed against them and urged govt not to disrupt the free trade.

The trade leaders have blamed the government for exorbitant price hike of tomatoes, saying that if the tomatoes were imported on time the crisis would have been avoided.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, All Pakistan Association of Traders President Ajmal Baloch said that the government has banned import of many food items, which has led to the food shortage crisis. He further said that the skyrocketing price of tomatoes was due to bad weather.

Ajmal added that if the tomatoes were imported on time, the ongoing crisis could have been avoided. He said the pertaining minister should be punished for not importing tomatoes despite being aware of the shortage.

He maintained that the manufacturers cannot produce cheap items due to the rising cost of electricity and gas. Ajmal said that sending traders in jail will not benefit the country.

The traders further have demanded the government to abolish Article 144 imposed against them and urged the government not to disrupt the free trade.

Rising prices of tomatoes alongside other vegetables have become a headache for consumers as the exorbitant prices have become too much for buyers to bear. The wholesale price of tomatoes has exceeded Rs200 per kilogram for the first time in the country’s history, meanwhile shops and street vendors are selling it at for as high as Rs250 to Rs300 per kg.

In order to bring the prices down, the government has decided to import it from Iran.