Pakistan bans export of onion through Attari-Wagah check post
06 Jan 2011
The Indian consumer, it seems, is not likely to get any relief from the high onion prices anytime soon with Pakistan having decided to ban exports of the vegetable through the Attari-Wagah border check-post. In a double whammy it has also cut down on the contracted quantity due to a shortage there, according to an official.
A communication from Pakistan's commerce ministry said onions would not be supplied over the land route but would instead take the rail route.
Rajdeep Uppal, Amritsar Exports and Imports Chamber vice president, said the chamber yesterday got the news that Pakistan had decided to send onions through the land route and would opt for goods train.
Pakistan, he added, had also decided to cut down the exports and the decision had been taken due to the shortage of onions there.
He said 50 trucks carrying onions were coming into India from Pakistan since 21 December, barring holidays and each of these carried 10 to 12 tonnes of the vegetable.
With onion prices touching Rs100 a kg in some parts of the country last month, Indian traders turned towards imports from Pakistan at Rs3,000-3,500 a quintal.
