Provincial Minister for Industry and Trade in Pakistan Sheikh Allauddin, during his speech in the Punjab Assembly on Monday, defended the government’s decision to not import vegetables from India.

He said "if tomato prices were up today people should keep their patience. The hike in tomato prices today was temporary and with the arrival of tomato crop from Sindh, prices of this item are gradually coming down."

The minister blamed the PTI government in KP for not checking a rise in the prices of daily use items. His statement irked the Opposition, which stood in protest asking why KP is criticised on every occasion when things there were far better than in Punjab.