Islamabad has cut sales tax on imported fruits to zero in a bid to boost trade from its neighbour, but also tightened controls on ordinary Afghans trying to cross over, fearing illegal entries.
A worker sorts pomegranates in Mazara. All photos: AFP
Pomegranates are pictured during harvest season in the village of Mazara in the Arghandab district of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 tonnes of pomegranates are exported to Pakistan, India and the Gulf states each year.
The fruit is quickly ripening as Afghanistan finds itself engulfed in a multitude of crises that have metastasised since the Taliban seized control two months ago.
Pomegranates bound for foreign markets are stuck for days and even weeks in scorching heat.
Critically, only 4,490 tonnes of pomegranates have left the country this year.
Islamabad has cut sales tax on imported fruits to zero in a bid to boost trade from its neighbour, but also tightened controls on ordinary Afghans trying to cross over, fearing illegal entries.
A worker sorts pomegranates in Mazara. All photos: AFP
Pomegranates are pictured during harvest season in the village of Mazara in the Arghandab district of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 tonnes of pomegranates are exported to Pakistan, India and the Gulf states each year.
The fruit is quickly ripening as Afghanistan finds itself engulfed in a multitude of crises that have metastasised since the Taliban seized control two months ago.
Pomegranates bound for foreign markets are stuck for days and even weeks in scorching heat.
Critically, only 4,490 tonnes of pomegranates have left the country this year.
Islamabad has cut sales tax on imported fruits to zero in a bid to boost trade from its neighbour, but also tightened controls on ordinary Afghans trying to cross over, fearing illegal entries.
