People Of IOK Facing Shortage Of Vegetables & Fruits In Holy Month Of Ramzan

Umer Jamshaid Published May 09, 2019 | 04:46 PM

People in the Kashmir valley are facing a crisis situation in the holy month of Ramzan due to shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables in the market,

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th May, 2019 ) :People in the Kashmir valley are facing a crisis situation in the holy month of Ramzan due to shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables in the market, while prices of mutton will likely shoot up as supply trucks are facing multiple curbs on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Indian occupied Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media service, the Joint Secretary of New Kashmir Fruit Association, Parimpora, Shahid Chaudhry in a statement issued in Srinagar said the highway ban and the fresh order of toll tax will affect the supply chain and prices may escalate, putting extra burden on consumers.

He said, "We are not able to cater to the demand of consumers as our supply trucks are being stopped frequently at multiple checkpoints, often for several days.

No truck is allowed to pass without paying bribe to the police at Udhampur and Ramban districts."He said that the unnecessary curbs had resulted in huge losses to business because traders are forced to throw away the spoiled fruits and vegetables. "These curbs must end, otherwise, we will face a crisis situation in coming days with prices shooting up," he added.

General Secretary of the Mutton Dealers Association, Meraaj-ud-Din Ganai, said that trucks carrying livestock were allowed to move on the highway after being halted for more than 7 days. "We faced huge losses due to death of animals in the stranded trucks. Policemen at multiple checkpoints continue to charge Rs 1,800 from each truck driver. There is a mafia raj which is affecting our business dearly," he said.