Lahore, July 29:

Pakistan has slapped quarantine restrictions on the import of potatoes from India by road, saying the vegetable could be infected with a virus, the Daily Times reported on Friday. The restrictions were announced two days after tonnes of fresh Indian garlic was allowed into Pakistan following the lifting of a ban on Indian vegetable and meat imports by road. Pakistan had decided on May 3 to lift the ban on imports by road of 13 daily commodities in a bid to check the spiralling prices of staple food items like potatoes, garlic and onions. Pakistani vegetables and fruit importers, who wholeheartedly supported the lifting of the ban, said the quarantine was imposed to protect potato hoarders in Pakistan. “Potatoes are selling for a whopping (Pakistani) Rs 35 per kg because hoarders are not releasing the crop in the market; now when the import of potato has been allowed, the quarantine restriction has been slapped,” said Abdul Majeed, who received a 382-kg consignment of garlic at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan.