ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir on Tuesday said the government was taking solid measures to protect interest of local farmers of Balochistan.
Speaking in the Senate, he said the government was seriously considering to protect local farmers of Balochistan following import of various vegetables and fruit from Iran and would hold meeting with them to work out a permanent solution to the issue.
He said the government had introduced in budget 2015-16 a scheme to grant 50 percent support for establishing food processing units in Balochistan and KP and such measures are proves of the government’s sincere efforts for protecting the farmers of underdeveloped areas.
He said the government had also imposed high duties on import of fruit and vegetables from Iran in order to promote products of the local farmers of Balochistan where three customs stations had been step up for import from Iran.
The products of Iran were imported through Torkhum custom point where duty was comparatively low, adding customs related laws should be effectively implemented to put an end to the practice which hurts the interest of the farmers of Balochistan.
Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani referred the matter of import of vegetable and fruit to the concerned committee of senate to present report in next session. Similarly, the issues relating to customs were referred to senate committee on finance to present a report in this regard.
