THIS is apropos the news report in Dawn’s issue of Sept 7, stating that the price of onion has gone up to Rs120 per kg from Rs30 in 10 days. This is an unprecedented rise reflecting adversely on the officials of the price control and food departments. Such uncontrolled fluctuations in the price of essential food ingredients hits the poorest of the poor.

Last year onion was selling at Rs 15 per kg, resulting in losses to growers who discontinued its farming. The government should have exported the surplus commodity to ensure a fair return to growers.

Now efforts are being made to import it from other countries to bring down the price. This should have been done well before Eid-ul-Azha when demand increases every year.

Asif Jah

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2017