ISLAMABAD: Almost 170 containers filled with onion and parked at the country’s ports may not be cleared for exports after the Ministry of Food Security and Research issued a notification of ban on onion exports.
According to the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA), millions of dollars’ worth of onion was all set to be exported tomorrow (Monday).
However, after the issuance of the notification on February 29, the onion exports have been halted, resulting in huge losses to the exporters.
Waheed Ahmed of PFVA fears loss of $2 million if the onion containers parked at the ports are not exported.
According to the notification, the ban will last till May 31 this year.
Earlier, the ECC had approved ban on February 19, but the same was later ratified by the federal cabinet on February 29.
The exporters have demanded the ministry to allow them to export stranded 170 containers at port
Earlier the PFVA had criticised the government’s decision of banning onion exports till May 31 without consulting exporters, saying it would result in major financial losses due to its short life.
In a letter to Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood, the association had claimed the country had surplus quantity of onion to ensure price stability in the market and that the ban on its export would deprive them of earnings.
Onion exporters had procured sizable quantities for export from the growers as per orders from foreign buyers.
Following a hue and cry by the exporters, the government previously had delayed the issuance of notification for at least 10 days to facilitate them to export the consignments lying at ports.
