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EPB allocates Rs 78 million for freight subsidy
on surplus potato exports
KARACHI (April 13 2004): The Export Promotion
Bureau (EPB) has allocated Rs 78 million to pay 25
percent freight subsidy on exports of surplus
potato.
However, the vegetable exporters demanded
extension in validity period for availing of the
subsidy, which is up to April 30, till December.
The observations were made at the fortnightly
meeting of the vegetable exporters, held at the
Pakistan Horticulture Export Development Board (PHDEP)
office with Chief Operating Officer Muhammad Iqbal
in the chair.
The exporters pointed out that they had to bear
extra cost due to the use of reefer container for
the export of potato, sourced from cold stores.
The subsidy would help in offsetting some of the
increased cost borne by the exporters, they added.
The meeting noted that about 60 percent of
Pakistani potato exports were directed to Sri
Lanka.
The bumper potato crop, combined with the exports
restricted due to increased tariff by the Sri
Lankan government, turned the prices downward in
the domestic market, causing unrest among the
growers.
Taking cognisance of the situation, the government
announced incentive in the form of freight subsidy
to encourage the exporters to market surplus
potato overseas.
The step helped in sustaining the farm prices of
the commodity to Rs 100 per 40 kilograms.
The meeting also discussed the issue of delay in
payment of freight subsidy on claims filed during
2003, and demanded of the EPB to direct the
commercial banks to issue cheques on undertaking,
submitted by the exporters.
The meeting suggested that the Sri Lankan
government should be approached for relaxation in
tariff as the increased tariff had rendered potato
exports from Pakistan unfeasible.
The meeting was attended by Muhammad Yousuf Abdul
Rehman, Haji M. Siddique, A. Ghaffar Ibrahim,
Chaudhry Muhammad Younus, Aslam Pakhali and Anjum
Ghafoor Ghafari.
Courtesy Business Recorder
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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