Govt. bans onions and chillies export till May 31

The export of onions and red chillies has been banned in Pakistan till May 31, the federal government issued a notification on Saturday.

According to the notification, the decision will be imposed with immediate effect.

According to the ministry of national food security and research, the decision to impose a ban was taken by the federal cabinet in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting on February 19.

Fruit and vegetable exporters, however, said that the government’s decision would cost them millions of dollars.

Waheed Ahmed, the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, told media that at least 170 containers filled with onions have reached the ports and were to be exported on Monday.

He urged the government to revert its decision and allow the export of the onions already on the ports, stating that there will be damage of $2 million if the containers would not be allowed to export.