ACCI deputy head Khan Jan Alokozay said Pakistan’s decision to close the borders to Afghan apple traders comes during the apple harvesting season. Pakistan has on numerous occasions in the past closed its borders to Afghan produce, citing quality control certification as the problem.
This time however, “they have claimed that Iranian apples are being exported under the name of Afghanistan, while Afghanistan apples are different from Iranian apples. Our apples are red and yellow, but Iran’s apples are green. Also Iranian apples will only be harvested in two months’ time; but in Afghanistan right now it is harvest season,” said Alokozay.
The Fresh Fruits Exporters Union officials said if Pakistan routes are not re-opened for Afghan apple trade, farmers in Maidan Wardak, Ghazni and Baghlan provinces will suffer heavy losses. The head of the union, Akhtar Mohammad, said if the issue would not be resolved, thousands of tons of apples will rot.
ACCI statistics show that apples are one of the key export items for Afghanistan and annually on average 100,000 tons are exported to Pakistan. Various economic affairs analysts told tolonews.com that the Afghan government has failed to resolve such transit and trade problems with Pakistan – over the past 17 years.
