ISLAMABAD: The government imposed a temporary ban on banana and onion exports during Ramazan in response to rising prices. In the National Assembly on Friday, Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan addressed concerns over the export ban, clarifying that it is specifically for Ramazan and is temporary.
The decision to impose the ban was taken at the cabinet level after a summary was submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security and concerns raised by the price-sensitive index and export associations. The measure was prompted by an alert raised by Syed Naveed Qamar and other lawmakers over the impact of the ban on agricultural exports.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan assured the assembly that the ban would remain in force till the 15th of the following month, stressing the government’s sensitivity to the concerns raised by farmers.
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The temporary ban aims to ensure sufficient domestic supplies of these essential commodities during the holy month, allay public concerns, and prevent false perceptions of shortages.
While the ban limits export opportunities for farmers in the short term, it shows the government’s proactive approach to managing food security during religious ceremonies. However, Kamal assured that the government was attentive to farmers’ concerns and hinted that the time frame for the ban could be reduced if circumstances permit.
