KARACHI: Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) maintained the other day that India should not be given transit facility to transport its wheat to Afghan market as it is against our national interests.
Dr Murtaza Mughal of PEW said Indian wish, if realised, could have devastating impact on agriculture, agro-based industry and society of the country. The government should not allow India a transit facility for wheat export to Afghanistan as Pakistan will lose Afghan market due to price difference which is result of Indian hidden subsidies offered to exporters, he said. Moreover, he said, sub-standard Indian wheat carry bugs which poses a major threat to our wheat crop and public health.
Dr Murtaza Mughal said that Indian wheat would also be smuggled into Pakistan hitting entire pricing mechanism and raising healthcare issues in one of the most underdeveloped province of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Pakistan has been tackling entire Afghan demand easily since long therefore Indian wheat is not needed there.
