KABUL (SW): The officials at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said that Pakistan has imposed restrictions on the fruits and vegetables imported from Afghanistan to Pakistan unless it has a certificate from the environmental protection agency and a plant health certificate.
Previously, exporters and merchants were exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to Pakistan with a Certificate of Origin of Exports, Form A and quarantine certificate issued by ACCI and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Khan Jan Alakozai, Deputy Director of ACCI told Salam Watandar that the Pakistani government has recently imposed these restrictions with a request letter sent to ACCI.
The Deputy Director of ACCI expressed his concern and said that if the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MoAIL) does not solve this problem until next harvest season with Pakistan, Afghanistan economy will suffer losses.
However, Akbar Rustami, spokesperson for the MoAIL told Salam Watandar that they have shared this concern with the Pakistani delegation in Kabul.
Masafir Quqandi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) said that Pakistan’s new approach is due to its policies towards Afghanistan and informed that this issue will be resolved soon.
Officials from the MoAIL told Salam Watandar that the certificate issued by the MoAIL in ports to exporters is now endorsed by all countries including Arab Countries, European and Central Asian Countries.
ENDS
