ISLAMABAD: Russia has officially lifted its import restrictions on potatoes from Punjab, clearing 101 Pakistani exporters to resume shipments as of July 7, 2026. The decision follows a detailed review of Pakistan’s phytosanitary control system by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.
While the bulk of exporters have been cleared to resume trade, the Russian authority has blacklisted two specific Pakistani firms for failing to meet the required phytosanitary standards. The trade breakthrough follows a year of restrictions imposed in May 2025 over concerns regarding the Potato Tuber Moth and Tomato Wilt virus. Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection successfully contested the ban by submitting laboratory diagnostics proving the crop’s safety.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi says sustained diplomatic engagement has helped expand Pakistan’s potato exports to Russia, with more than 100 companies now cleared to export, describing the development as a major success for Pakistan’s economic diplomacy. He… pic.twitter.com/gfoLtJ5XtE
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 10, 2026
With Pakistan currently harvesting a bumper 12-million-ton potato crop, the restoration of the Russian market—which leaves an estimated 4 million tons of surplus for export—is expected to stabilize domestic prices, safeguard farming livelihoods, and secure vital foreign exchange.
