Potato Prices Plunge in Pakistan Following Export Halt to Afghanistan

Pakistani media have reported that after the suspension of potato exports to Afghanistan and some Central Asian countries, domestic markets in Pakistan are facing a surplus of the product, leading to a sharp decline in its price.

The Pakistani newspaper Dawn wrote that the supply of potatoes in the market far exceeds demand, causing prices to drop significantly; to the extent that some farmers have been forced to use potatoes as animal feed.

According to the report, increased potato production in Pakistan coupled with closed trade routes with Afghanistan has exacerbated the current crisis. It is said that potato production in Pakistan has reached about 12 million tons, but after export restrictions to Afghanistan, a large portion of the product remains in domestic markets.

Some economic analysts, speaking with Dawn, emphasized that reopening trade routes with Afghanistan could alleviate part of this problem. This situation once again highlights the consequences of trade restrictions and the lack of sustainable policies by the Taliban administration—a matter that has harmed not only Afghan traders but also farmers and markets in the region.