Pakistan: Limited import keeps onion rate high
Dealers said that at a time when onion local crop is full-grown in both in Punjab and Sindh, the rising trend is not understandable. They said the rates of onion usually drop to lowest level in these months due to the harvesting season. The average onion price during the month of April and May is usually between Rs15 and Rs20 per kilogram, but this year, it increased to Rs50-60 per kg mainly due to halt in imports from India.
However, Aftab Vohra was of the view that no quarantine permit was issued to the importers of vegetable for the last two weeks. Hence, the import of vegetables through Wagha border has been stopped, cutting the volume of daily import consignments by around 30-40 per cent.
Presently, only low quality onion was available in markets while good quality is being exported with local consumer always suffering due to increase in rates. This week the price of potato increased to Rs12 per kg while price of low quality onion increased to Rs40 per kg.
The vendors continued overcharging and openly sold seasonal fruits and vegetables up to 30 per kg higher than the official rates. However, low quality and rotten veggie items especially onion were being sold at official rates in all Sunday bazaars. No market committee official was seen to ensure sale of quality edibles at official rates.
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