Despite hopes that Iranian tomato imports would cool soaring prices, consumers in Karachi are still paying Rs450-500 per kg—the same rate charged for domestic fruit from Balochistan. The relief many anticipated has simply not materialized. Main Developments Retailers are charging Rs450-500 per kg for both Iranian and Quetta tomatoes, with some offering small-sized or unripe fruit at Rs400 per kg. Consumers report getting only two or three small tomatoes for Rs50-60, forcing them to tighten purchases. Prices have climbed sharply from over Rs300 per kg earlier this month, compared to Rs120-160 in late June and just Rs80-100 in April. The Iranian supply remains insufficient to dent this trend. Read also: Pakistan-China EV Charging Pact Targets Infrastructure Expansion Background Younus Soomro, a tomato grower and former vice-president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, explained that Iranian tomatoes arrive in very small quantities—averaging only 10 containers per day. Once in Karachi, about 30 percent of them are damaged, and their taste falls short of Sindh or Balochistan standards. Currently, only the Balochistan crop is feeding the national market, and it cannot cover the country's huge demand. Sindh's planting has just started, with harvest expected by mid-September. The tomato crop ended in April, while crops from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab arrived in May-June but remained confined to those provinces. Why It Matters The price surge highlights deeper vulnerabilities in Pakistan's vegetable supply chain. Total vegetable exports in FY26 fell drastically to 594,104 tonnes ($163 million) from 1.448 million tonnes ($367 million) in FY25, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data. Soomro noted that vegetables are now exported only by air in very small quantities. Potato and onion exports have stopped due to a lack of vessels for Dubai amid the Gulf War. Exports to Afghanistan and CIS countries were already suspended because of the closed Afghan border, compounding the domestic supply crunch. What's Next Sindh's tomato crop is expected by mid-September, which may offer some relief if it reaches markets efficiently. Until then, consumers face continued high prices as Iranian imports remain limited and of lower quality. The broader question is whether export disruptions and border closures will persist, further straining domestic vegetable availability.