Pakistan Bans Pulse Exports

ISLAMABAD - May 24/07 - SNS -- The Pakistan government has banned exports of gram or chickpeas to prevent prices from rising as supplies on domestic markets tighten.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters after chairing a special meeting to review the prices of essential commodities, "We have banned gram exports from Pakistan, after wheat, to control local prices. The crop of gram is good and if we do not take this step, prices could have gone up."

Markets were surprised by the move because this season's gram harvest is estimated at 706,000 metric tons (MT), up from 459,000 in 2005-06. However, it is consistent with actions taken earlier in the week to ban wheat exports even though Pakistan is looking at a near record wheat crop.

Other officials attending the meeting include Minister for Industries Jehangir Tareen, Minister for Food and Agriculture Sikandar Bosan, and State Minister for Finance Omar Ayub.