Pakistan hit hard as tomatoes available at PKR 600 per kg, peas priced at 500
Since the October 11, 2025, Pakistan-Afghanistan border closure due to Pakistani bombardment, trade has halted, costing $10 million daily. This disruption has caused essential goods prices, like tomatoes, to skyrocket over 400% in Pakistan. Despite a ceasefire, the border remains closed, leading to widespread shortages and economic hardship for both nations, impacting vegetables and other vital commodities.
New Delhi: Due to the closure of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the prices of essential goods have increased a lot in both countries. Since the start of fighting between the two countries earlier this month, the prices of tomatoes have risen five times higher than usual. Since 11 October 2025, the border between the two countries has been closed. This happened because of bombardment by Pakistan on the 2600 km long border. This was the worst violence incident since the Taliban captured Kabul in 2021.
Khan Jan Alokozai, head of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce in Kabul, told Reuters on Thursday, "Since the start of the battle, all trade and movement of goods has stopped. Every day both countries are losing about 10 million dollars.” Pakistan and Afghanistan trade about $2.3 billion every year. This includes fresh fruits, vegetables, minerals, medicines, wheat, rice, sugar, meat and dairy products.
Tomato prices skyrocketing in Pakistan
The price of tomatoes in Pakistan has increased by more than 400 percent. Now tomatoes are being sold at 600 Pakistani rupees per kg. Apart from this, Afghanistan's apples have also become expensive. Peas are also priced at 500 Pakistani rupees kg. Alokozai said, "We have 500 containers of vegetables ready for export every day, but all these have deteriorated.” A Pakistani official quoted by Reuters at the Torkham border crossing in the north-west of Pakistan said that about 5,000 containers of goods are stuck on both sides. He said, "There is already a shortage of tomatoes, apples and grapes in the market.”
This clash began when Pakistan asked Afghanistan to act against the 'terrorists' who are allegedly attacking Pakistan from the soil of Afghanistan. Taliban has denied these allegations. After negotiations between Qatar and Turkey last week, a ceasefire was, which is ongoing. But trade at the border is still closed. This border closure is causing a lot of trouble to the people of both countries. The prices of essential goods are rising and the market is decreasing.