Islamabad, Aug. 17: Pakistan has started importing potatoes from India after floods in the country destroyed the crops, raising fears of acute shortage of the vegetable in the coming days, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
The first consignment of about 25 trucks arrived at the Wagah border checkpoint in the Punjab province on Monday.
Potato prices have already soared in the wholesale and retail markets. The import is likely to help stabilise the prices. Potatoes have a longer shelf life than other vegetrables, and form a main ingredient in many subcontinental dishes.
Prices of other vegetables also surged due to flooding in major vegetable producing areas of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces. Potatoes are being imported from India to curb rising prices. More consignments would reach the country this week.