KARACHI: Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan chaired a high-level meeting to assess the impact of surplus potato production and consider measures to boost exports while limiting losses for farmers.
Officials from the federal government and the Punjab administration attended the meeting, along with Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, coordinator to the prime minister, and Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul.
Participants reviewed updated production estimates, domestic supply conditions and export trends. An expansion in cultivated area, coupled with carryover stocks from the previous season, has led to excess supply, putting pressure on farm-gate prices amid weak global demand.
Khan said the brunt of the surplus was being borne by farmers and that any response should prioritise direct support rather than market-distorting price interventions. Sustainable measures must remain market-based and fiscally prudent, he added.
Officials discussed steps to improve export competitiveness, particularly in Central Asian and other emerging markets. A targeted, time-bound freight support mechanism is being considered, subject to fiscal space and performance benchmarks, to help offset higher logistics costs.
The minister also directed authorities to intensify business-to-business engagement in Central Asia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific markets to diversify export destinations and strengthen buyer linkages.
He instructed relevant departments to compile updated data on production, exports and logistics in coordination with the Punjab government, with a comprehensive proposal to be submitted for further consideration.The government remains committed to supporting farmers and exporters through calibrated measures that protect incomes while preserving market discipline, Khan said.
