117pc Increase In Potato Exports During FY 2017-18, National Assembly Told

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 18, 2019 | 06:38 PM

As many as 117 percent increase in potato exports has been reported during the financial year of 2017-18 as compared to corresponding period of FY 2016-17, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan told National Assembly on Friday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2019 ) :As many as 117 percent increase in potato exports has been reported during the financial year of 2017-18 as compared to corresponding period of FY 2016-17, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan told National Assembly on Friday.

Responding to a calling attention notice, moved by Syed Javed Hasnain, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha and Riaz-ul-Haq, she said total exports of fruits had been increased by 22.8 percent while vegetable exports had been increased by47.9 percent during the FY 2017-18 as compared to FY 2016-17.

She said Federal government is holding negotiations with Punjab government to provide relief to the potato farmers.

She said measures were being taken to provide relief to farmers having surplus potato production.

She said the commerce ministry is also striving to encourage investment in agro-food and last day's announcement of investment amounting to two million Dollars by Cargill was encouraging.

Responding to another calling attention notice, moved by Ms Farukh Khan, Ms Uzma Riaz, Ms Fouzia Behram, Ijaz Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Sana ullah Khan Mastikhel, regarding the non-availability of alternative methods of identification system like eye-scan for those whose finger prints are illegible for the purpose of making CNICs, mobile phones, Bank Accounts, etc, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that the eye scan syetem, the alternative system to verify the blurred thumb impressions for issuing mobile SIMS,etc was not available in the country. Efforts were underway to acquire such system to facilitate people.

He said another alternative verification system is available (at website) and peoplehaving problems in identification due to blurred thumb impressions could benefit from it.