Friday, July 29 2005 14:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan has slapped quarantine restrictions on the import of potatoes from India, saying they could be infected with a virus.

"We have reports that the Indian potato crop is infected and therefore the quarantine restriction is necessary," a Food and Agriculture Ministry representative, at the Wagah border, said.

He, however, denied allegations by importers that the Ministry was protecting hoarders.

Pakistani importers, who rejoiced at the lifting of the ban on Indian vegetable and meat imports by road two days ago, claimed the quarantine was imposed to protect potato hoarders in the country.

"Potatoes are selling for a whopping Rs 35 per kg because hoarders are not releasing the crop in the market and now when the import of potato has been allowed, the quarantine restriction has been slapped," Abdul Majeed, who received a 382 kg consignment of garlic at Wagah border, was quoted as saying by 'Daily Times' newspaper here today (July 29, 2005).

"We don't believe the argument that the Indian potato is infected. When the same potato crop is transported by rail, there is no such restriction and now when authorities see that the crop transported by road can affect daily prices, they have slapped restrictions to protect hoarders," Majeed complained.