Pakistan is scrambling to offload a surplus potato crop to Central Asian markets, as rising logistical hurdles and freight costs threaten to depress domestic prices and force farmers into distress sales.

At a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, officials reviewed production levels, excess stocks and export facilitation measures, signalling urgency in managing the supply glut.

Participants, including representatives from provincial agriculture departments, exporters and logistics firms, highlighted multiple constraints hampering overseas shipments. These included elevated transportation costs, route-related complications, visa issues for transporters and broader logistical inefficiencies.

The discussion also focused on proposals to ease these pressures. Suggestions included concessional freight rates, better coordination with railways and logistics providers, and steps to streamline cross-border trade procedures.

Central Asian markets were identified as a key outlet for the surplus. The minister stressed the importance of capitalising on the current export window to reduce domestic supply pressures and stabilise farmgate prices.

Officials were directed to expedite pending decisions, eliminate operational bottlenecks and ensure the smooth movement of excess produce. The aim, according to the ministry, is to prevent market distortions while supporting growers' incomes.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural exports through coordinated and time-bound interventions. Close monitoring of export trends and follow-up meetings were also planned to track progress.

The episode underscores a recurring challenge in Pakistan's agricultural economy: the difficulty of translating production surpluses into export gains, particularly when logistics and trade facilitation lag behind output.