Fresh onion imports from Pakistan to cross Wagah border tomorrow

The first consignment of Pakistani onions contracted by Indian state-owned trading agencies will arrive in Amritsar tomorrow and could reach markets in Delhi a day or so after, official sources said here today.

The consignment will reach the Wagah border, from where it will be shifted to Indian trucks for onward transportation to Delhi and other parts of the country.

While the exact quantity coming from Pakistan could not be ascertained, sources said it would be "sizeable enough".

These imports are being done by PEC and the State Trading Corporation under the Commerce Ministry.

The supply would reach in two-three lots and the landed cost could be about Rs30 per kg, much below the prevailing price of Rs50-60 in retail markets of major metros across the country.

Apart from these two trading firms, private traders are also importing onions from Pakistan.

Onion prices had surged to Rs70-85 per kg on December 20-21 because of damage to crops in Maharashtra, a major producing state, due to rains. It was also apprehended that hoarders were deliberately pushing up prices of the stable commodity.