Sargodha: The lifting of Russia’s ban on potato imports from Punjab opens a major international market for Pakistani produce, with 101 local exporters now allowed to resume shipments to the country.
Former President of the Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Chaudhry Shoaib Ahmed Basra on Tuesday, Termed Russsia’s decision a significant development for Pakistan’s agricultural sector, particularly for potato growers and exporters.
He highlighted that potato production in Pakistan reached around 12 million tonnes during the previous crop season against a domestic consumption of approximately 8 million tonnes, leaving nearly 4 million tonnes of surplus produce that urgently required access to international markets.
‘The restoration of the Russian market provides Pakistan with a vital opportunity to export this surplus and protect growers from potential financial losses caused by oversupply, ‘ Basra remarked.
He pointed out that Punjab is the country’s largest potato-producing province, accounting for around 96 percent of the total national production. The removal of these import restrictions by Russia would directly benefit local farmers, cold-storage operators, commission agents, packing houses, and exporters, he added.
The former SCCI president also urged the exporters to focus on improving product quality, packaging, cold-chain facilities, and transportation systems to strengthen Pakistan’s position in the Russian market and effectively expand its share over time.
