Effects of imports from India discussed

Indo-Pak balance of trade significantly favours India, as import from India was 107.608 percent higher than Pakistani export to its neighbouring country. This was stated by the participants during a roundtable conference on 'Effects of imports from India on country's economy', which was organised by Citizen Rights Association (CRA) here on Friday.
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf, Chamber of Agriculture President Chaudhry Sultan Ali, Kissan Board President Sadiq Khan Khakwani and its General Secretary Ibrahim Mughal, and Pakistan Kissan Movement President Chaudhry Ishfaque were among the participants. CRA President Nasir Ahmed moderated the roundtable debate.
Representatives of growers' associations were of the view that there was no shortage of vegetables in the county, but a certain group of importers were giving a false picture on the issue of import of vegetables from India. Moreover, the sugar mills representatives were against the import of injurious to health sugar from India.
The participants observed that the policy-makers in Islamabad were void of nationalistic approach while drafting policies and were playing in the hands of vested interest elements, particularly the importers.
Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf informed the participants that Pakistan faced a shortage of only 500,000 tonnes of sugar, but the irrational decision of allowing unlimited duty free import of sugar has not only increased sugar prices internationally but also put the local sugar industry and growers at stake.
"Import of sugar was acceptable to meet the country's requirement but not import of inferior sugar from India that threatens the health of human beings," he added.
To a question he alleged that in connivance with certain policy-makers, vested interest elements created a sugar shortage scenario by hoarding sugar from the local markets to provide justification to the government for permitting the import of sugar, including from India.
"However, the short-sighted policy of the government has put the sugar industry at stake. In comparison, when the Indians face a similar situation, the Indian policy-makers in collaboration with the Indian sugar millers found a way to end the sugar shortage," he added.
Speaking on this occasion, Ibrahim Mughal said that the farmers were totally against the import of Indian sugar and they were planning to hold protest against this at Wagha border.
Chaudhry Sultan Ali observed that the decision to import vegetables and livestock from India stunned the farmers, as there was no shortage of vegetables in the country. "In Pakistan, potato production last year was 1.9 million tonnes against the country's consumption of 1.4 million tonnes annually. Moreover, the surplus of 0.5 million tonnes was exported at rate of Rs 10 per kg. However, for some strange reason the policy-makers created fictitious situation of vegetable shortage and allowed its import," he added.