Pakistan can consider importing vegetables and other foods from India to help people overcome the destruction of plants that are widespread in new flash floods, Pakistani Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Monday.
Ismail made a statement during interaction with journalists in Islamabad which was held to present the view of the Shehbaz Sharif government about the movement by the leaders of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan to destroy Pakistan’s efforts to secure the bailout package from international monetary funds.
When responding to a question from a reporter, Ismail said the Pakistani government could consider importing vegetables and other edible goods from India to facilitate people after the destruction of plants standing in floods recently, according to Pakistan radio managed by the government. Minister does not provide details.
Other journalists then questioned Ismail about the Minister of Pakistan who preferred trade with India to resign. Ismail responded to this by saying: “If people have to go home to protect themselves from inflation, then it’s fine. Because I work to improve the economy, I hope I will not be fired. “
He said food supply, such as fruits and vegetables, was likely to be affected by flooding. “If the supply is affected, the import of vegetables must be opened. If we have to import vegetables from India, we will do it, “he said as quoted.
In August 2019, Pakistan suspended all trade with India as part of the steps aimed at replying to New Delhi’s decision to cancel the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, Pakistan reduced diplomatic bonds with India and expelled Indian envoys in Islamabad.
Previously in 2019, India pulled the status of the most preferred state given to Pakistan as part of his response to suicide attacks in Pulwama which killed 40 Indian troops. The attack was blamed on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) based in Pakistan.
Former government Imran Khan announced a step to return to limited trade with India in April 2021 but made a round only a day later due to opposition to the proposal from the hardline in the cabinet.
