Crying over onion prices

KARACHI: The price of onions has spiked to a new peak and ranging between Rs60 and Rs70 per kilogramme across the country.

Extensive flood damages to onion crop in Sindh has been blamed for the shortage that is causing an upward pressure on prices. The import of onions from India has been finalised to stabilise the price.

The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (APFVEIMA ) has demanded the waiving of sales tax on the import of onions and measures to put an immediate halt to onion smuggling to Afghanistan for overcoming the shortage.

Officials of the APFVEIMA have said that the price of onions may reach Rs100 per kilogramme if the shortage is not tackled effectively.  They added that Pakistan faces the threat of losing its foothold in its onion export markets.

Onions may be priced at Rs35 per kilogramme in the open market if imported from Iran, China or Holland and granted exemption from general sales tax, officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2010.