Trade:
Regarding trade, Swat is the importer of every thing, while she exports a few surplus elements. The materials for external trade are two types:
Edible Materials:
The surplus amount of food grains stands first in the edible materials. The others are potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, garlic, and onion etc. Among the vegetables the largest elements of external trade are potatoes, turnip, and tomatoes. The other elements are exported on small scale.
The fruits of various kinds including apples, oranges, apricots, damsons, pears, jujubes, and walnuts are also exported to nearly all big cities of Pakistan.
Among the edible items, there are three other elements which are more precious than the above mentioned items. They are honey, indigenous butter oil, and mushroom. Honey and mushroom have much importance in the external trade. The physicians in the big cities of Pakistan want the honey. Hamdard Dawakhana demands more honey than any other.
Mushrooms are the most precious fungicides, which are exported to many countries of the world. Its soup and taste is unique. Its price round about 3500 rupees per kg in the local market, and a 100$ in the international markets. Presently the annual export of mushroom from Swat is 70 million rupees.
The Non Edible Materials:
The non-edible materials are furs, hides, and skins. The handicrafts are also exported for business. It consists of woolen blankets, shawls, the caps, and rugs. The raw wool and hair of goats are also going beyond Landakay, the ex-border of Swat. The external people like all of the silken-thread-work, cotton-thread-work, and golden-lace work too much. They buy a great number of articles, prepared in Swat, and take it outside of the district. Some woolen articles are also made for decoration, and sent out of the border.
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