The price of tomatoes has risen so much in Pakistan that armed guards have been deployed to protect the tomato farms in the areas of Sindh. Tomatoes in Karachi were being sold as high as Rs320 a kilo as of the weekend, doubling in rates from the previous week. Vendors and hawkers claimed that it was not their fault since wholesale prices had shot up significantly. Last week, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Abdul Hafeez Sheikh on Monday claimed that tomatoes are being sold at Rs17 per kilogramme. In Karachi tomatoes were being sold as high as Rs320 a kilo as of the weekend, doubling in rates from the previous week. Vendors and hawkers claimed that it was not their fault since wholesale prices had shot up significantly. But tomatoes are now off-season there and heavy rains have damaged crops in some key areas that are currently producing them. According to the sources, Pakistan is considering buying tomatoes from Iran after its supply was partially hit by the lack of import from India.