Pakistan’s federal government is urgently pursuing export opportunities in Central Asia to manage a surplus potato crop and shield farmers from potential financial distress, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain confirmed following a high-level meeting on Friday.
The initiative aims to relieve domestic supply pressure as exporters grapple with rising freight costs and significant cross-border logistical hurdles.
The second session of the Committee on Potato Export, chaired by the Minister for National Food Security and Research, brought together senior ministry officials, representatives from provincial agriculture departments, exporters, and logistics companies to address the pressing issue.
During the gathering, a detailed assessment of the estimated surplus potato stocks was presented, alongside an overview of both traditional and newly emerging international markets for the produce.
Key impediments affecting exports were highlighted by stakeholders, including increased freight charges, logistical constraints, route-related difficulties, and complications with visa facilitation for transporters.
The committee reviewed several proposals aimed at overcoming these obstacles, such as introducing concessional freight rates, improving coordination with railway and logistics providers, and establishing measures to streamline cross-border trade.
Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized the critical need to capitalise on the current export window to ease domestic oversupply and protect growers from being forced into distress sales. He directed all concerned departments to expedite pending matters and resolve operational bottlenecks to ensure the smooth movement of the surplus crop.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and stabilising market prices through coordinated and time-bound interventions. He stressed that practical solutions must be implemented swiftly to safeguard the interests of agricultural producers while strengthening Pakistan’s position in regional markets.
The meeting concluded with a decision to maintain close monitoring of export trends and to convene subsequent sessions to review progress on the agreed-upon actions.