KHYBER: Over 6,000 tonnes of duty-free onion and tomatoes arrived in Pakistan through the Torkham border here on Friday.

Deputy collector customs at Torkham Amanat Khan said around 5,000 tonnes of onion and 1,800 tonnes of tomatos loaded in about 339 trucks entered Torkham on Friday morning.

He said the federal government had recently waived off customs duty on import of these two vegetables from Afghanistan and Iran owing to recent hike in their prices in local market and damage caused to such crops by the recent floods in different parts of the country.

The official said the customs staff had been deployed at the border crossing to facilitate speedy clearance of onion and tomatoes round-the-clock.

A local trader, Mujeebullah, welcomed the exemption of the two essential vegetables from customs duty, and expressed the hope that it would help bring down their prices in local markets.

He said such facilities by the federal government would also improve bilateral trade between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...