Afghanistan: Businessmen Demand Hike In Tariffs On Pakistani Products To Help Domestic Agricultural Market

A number of Afghan businessmen have called on the government to increase tariffs on Pakistan's seasonal exports, a media report said on Tuesday (15 October).

The businessmen added that the government should impose tariffs not only on Pakistan, but Iran as well, for fruits and vegetables, TOLO News said in the report.

They said that domestic markets were currently full of Iranian and Pakistani fruits and vegetables -- which are also produced in Afghanistan, and the government is doing nothing to support domestic products.

"When our fruit season arrives, Pakistan imposes a high tariff and we have to sell our products for less," said Ashraf, a businessman.

"Import tariffs on products from Iran and Pakistan should be raised, which is in the favour of the government itself. If there are no high tariffs, the domestic agricultural market will suffer," said Qodratullah, another businessman.

Potato farmers, for which harvest season has arrived, face the challenge of not having a market. Each kilogram is sold for up to 12 Afghanis ($0.15 dollar).

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)