Some 270+ trucks, loaded with onions from Afghanistan, were awaiting clearance at the Torkham border for entering into Pakistan on Saturday. Meanwhile, shortage of the vegetable in wholesale market has pushed up prices.
On Saturday, few trucks managed to reach the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, after travelling a distance of 54km from the Torkham border. However, around 272 trucks full of onions were stuck over a distance of four kilometres from the Torkham border gate to Michani Customs Post. The average weight of onions per truck is 35 tonnes, suggesting that some 9,520 tonnes of onions are loaded on these vehicles.
Importers are desperate for early clearance since they fear that the onions would end up getting damaged. Afghanistan has produced surplus onion and tomatoes, allowing Kabul to exporting these vegetables to Pakistan and India. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday tweeted that starting Monday in coming week, his government will use all the resources at the disposal of the state to bring down food prices.
