After 30 yrs, India exports bananas to Pakistan.

After a gap of 30 years, India has exported fruit to Pakistan as around 15 tonnes of bananas were sent across the border by train on Monday.

India has been exporting vegetables, including onion, tomato, ginger, and green chilly, to Pakistan. Recently, newsprint was also exported
to the neighbouring country.

It is for the first time in years that the fruit has been exported to Pakistan. Besides the current consignment, a few trucks of bananas from Maharashtra are waiting to be sent across the border.

Talking to HT, Vijay Bahadur, deputy commissioner, customs, rail cargo, said, "The first consignment of bananas was sent on Monday. We hope it would boost the trade relations between the neighbours. More fruit will be sent in the days to come."

Earlier, the bilateral trade was restricted to a few items, but in the past few years, the number of items has increased. India imports gypsum, coal, chemicals, dried fruit and other products from Pakistan.

Om Parkash, a leading exporter, told HT, "It is after long that the fruit is being sent to Pakistan. Bananas were sent to Pakistan some 30 years ago, and that also after getting special permission. It is good that the trade has revived. We want that the bananas be sent to Pakistan through the Integrated Check Post at the Attari road border. While sending the fruit by train, there is always a chance of its getting spoilt."

To go through the rail cargo, the fruit has to be brought in early and then it is stuffed into the bogies. Due to the heat, there are chances of its getting spoilt.

But in case it was sent across the border by truck, it would reach there soon, and its quality would also not be affected, he added.

Source : hindustantimes.com