Miffed traders stop vegetable exports to Pakistan

Amritsar-based traders on Friday refused to export vegetables, including tomato, to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah land route, peeved over the ban imposed by neighbouring country on onion exports by land. (See: Hectic talks on to get Pak onions back on road)

This decision was taken today collectively by about 40 vegetables exporters based at Amritsar.

"We have not exported vegetables to Pakistan at all today in protest against the Pakistan government's move of putting a ban on onion export to India," Amritsar-based vegetable trader Anil Mehra told PTI over the phone.

"We took this decision because when we (India) needed the vegetable (onion), Pakistan has simply banned the export of essential item," he said, while adding that the traders were not bothered about the losses which would they face because of not sending vegetables to neighbouring country.

About 60 to 70 trucks carrying vegetables including tomato, ginger and chilly have been withheld by exporters and were not sent for customs clearance for onward movement to the neighbouring country.

"No truck carrying vegetables including tomato crossed over to Pakistan. However, six trucks containing soybean (animal feed) have moved to the neighbouring country, while nine trucks carrying mainly dry fruit from Pakistan entered Indian territory at Amritsar," a senior official of customs department official at Amritsar said.