Soaring onion prices lead to protests in Multan

Wholesalers blame local administration and stockists for creating artificial shortage

MULTAN: Skyrocketing prices of onions have triggered protests in Multan and other districts.

The prices of onions soared to Rs120 per kilogramme in the local vegetable markets in different districts, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The sudden surge in prices compelled citizens to take to the streets as they could not afford to buy onions, a staple veggie that is used in cooking most of the meals.



Scores of protesters, including women staged protest demonstration at Six Number Chungi in Multan on Friday. The protesters shouted slogans against the government and demanded an immediate decrease in the prices of onions.

Salma, a protester said, “These days onions have become a luxurious commodity due to its high prices. Even the vegetables are not affordable by a common man.”

Another protester Zareena Bibi told The Express Tribune, “The government has failed to provide vegetables at affordable prices to the people.” She added, “No meal can be prepared without onions and the surge in prices has created difficulties for us.”

Meanwhile, local suppliers and stockists said currently, onions have become a scarce commodity thanks to the price leap over the past three days as well as gross mismatch between demand and supply network, besides hoarding by stockists.

But the administration continues to harp and assert that they are constantly monitoring the prices of vegetables, particularly the onions. However, the administration assured that it has ensured a price-rise-check mechanism by creating a buffer stock of onions, but it seems to have failed.

Another crucial factor triggering the price rise is inadequate supply against demand in local market after Eid-ul-Azha and hoarding which created artificial shortage resulting in skyrocketing of prices.

The prices hovered around Rs30 to Rs40 per kg at the beginning of the month and surprisingly scooped to Rs120.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, an onion wholesaler in Multan Haji Akram Arain said, “The existing price hike of onions is a game of weeks. With the restoration of supply from farmers, the pressure of excess stock would bring down the prices.” He said, “Onion crop is far better than previous years and we have surplus stock of the commodity. On the other hand, if supply was not restored, the prices will rise further.”



Akram maintained, “Today onions are sold at a wholesale price ranging Rs500 to Rs600 per 5 kg, while in retail it is available at Rs 120/kg. Though the prices have gone up by 200%, these are stable for the last three to four days.”

While sharing his views on factors behind sudden volatility in onion business, he pointed out that this year, Punjab and Sindh recorded bumper onion production and sufficient stock was lying in the market. “But stockists created artificial shortage with connivance of the administration and stored thousands of kilogrammes of onions. However, officials concerned denied the allegation and said there was no possibility of exhausting the stock before arrival of the new crop.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2017.