The Chairman of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Importers, Exporters & Merchants Association, on behalf of its members, has requested the Export Development Fund chief to allow subsidy to exporters/traders of vegetables, keeping in view the damage caused to vegetable due to cold and unexpected frosty season in the country, especially in lower Sindh.
"The exporters booked orders on the basis of rates before frosty season. If we compare the prices at that time with those prevailing in February/March they show an increase of about 300 percent to 400 percent. But the exporters have to honour their trade commitments, irrespective of the market rates."
In case of default their outstanding payments may be stuck up. As a result small exporters, who have exported vegetable worth Rs 100 million in a season, have suffered heavy losses, and the trend still continues.
The authorities have been requested to allow subsidy of Rs 30 per kg to the affected vegetable exporters. However, if they are not encouraged, the exports may suffer, "and we may lose foreign markets", which is not in the interest of the country.-PR