Pakistan has scored a significant boost in its agricultural exports after Russia approved imports of potatoes from Punjab, unlocking a critical international market for the country’s bumper harvest. The decision, effective April 8, 2026, offers a lifeline to exporters and farming communities amid a surplus in domestic production.

The approval came from the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), which lifted the phytosanitary restrictions that had blocked Pakistani potato exports since May 2025.

In the initial phase, three Pakistani exporters—Chase International, Zahid Kinnow Grinding and Waxing Plant, and National Fruit—are cleared to ship potatoes to Russia. More companies are expected to be registered soon, according to Shabana Aziz, head of Pakistan’s Trade Mission in Moscow. She noted that virtual business-to-business meetings are being organized with support from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) to help exporters seize the opportunity.

The timing could not be better: Punjab is experiencing a record potato crop, estimated at around 12 million tons. Access to the Russian market is expected to absorb excess supply, stabilize domestic prices, and provide a much-needed boost to growers, while generating valuable foreign exchange earnings for the country.

Earlier this year, Punjab urged the federal government to cut freight costs for potato and kinnow exports, especially via Iran, to ease pressure on farmers and traders. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani confirmed that the provincial government is actively working to remove export bottlenecks and improve access for key commodities.