Srinagar September 18 (KNS): Chairman JK People's Democratic Front (JkPDF) and Former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has expressed serious concern over the fast dewindling prices of Kashmiri fruit in various fruit mandis of the country . He has sought personal intervention of LG Manoj Sinha to save Kashmir fruit business from eminent threat of collapse.
In a statement issued on Sunday Hakeem Yaseen while expressing his serious concern over the low prices of Kashmiri fruit in the fruit mandis of the country as compared to last year , said that livelihood of about 25 lakh families, dependent on fruit business , was on the verge of breakdown . He said enhanced costs of packaging materials ,frieght and transportation charges , cold storage rates and un necessary haltage of fruit ladden trucks on National Highway-44 were the main causes of prevailing set back to the Kashmir fruit business urging that the government should immediately address these bottleneck to save the livelihood of thousands of families associated with the fruit business.
PDF Chairman has urged the government to regulate movement of fruit ladden trucks on National High way-44 , adding that strict orders should be issued immediately to allow unhindered movement of fruit ladden trucks on National High way-44.
PDF leader also sought a blanket ban on illegal import of tax free Iranian and Chinese fruit through Afghanistan which was one of the causes of reduced rates of Kashmiri apples He said presently rates of Kashmiri fruit were 40 percent less as compared to last year rates.(KNS)