Exporters have expressed concern over the delay in the announcement of kinnow import quota by Indonesian government for Pakistan.

Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Merchants and Exporters Association (PFVA) has approached ministry of commerce for immediate release of quota to earn foreign exchange for the country.

According to a letter sent by PFVA to Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce &, Textile Ministry of Commerce, mainly Indonesia follows a quota system for import of fruits from other countries and there is no expectation for Pakistan.

Generally, quota for import of Pakistani kinnow is issued every year in the first week of January by the Indonesia government; however, this year no quota has been announced by Indonesia. "It's now over two weeks of January gone, we did not hear any information regarding announcement of kinnow import quota by Indonesian government. This situation is causing serious concern among the exporters of Kinnow," exporters said in the letter.

Pakistan and Indonesia have signed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which is in favor of Indonesia as Pakistan imports two billion dollars of palm oil annually from Indonesia while export of Pakistani kinnow is just a few million dollars.

Exporters urged Indonesia government to at least, extends a favor to Pakistani exporters by issuing kinnow import quota on the given date. They also requested the Indonesian government to abolish quota system for Pakistan as Pakistan is importing Indonesian palm oil without any quota restriction.

Exporters urged the ministry of commerce to approach the Indonesian government for issuance of quota without delay.