The shortage of two essential commodities, onions and potatoes, has put the consumers in constant dilemma due to the soaring prices of these two items in the retail market and there is no hope for relief in the prices in the near future.
The prices of the both the commodities are ranging between Rs 16 and 20 per kilogram.
The sources said at present Karachi market was mostly fed by Sindh crops, which could not meet the provincial capital's requirement due to fall in the crop, severely affected by shortage of irrigation water. As a result, the retailers said, the city was solely depending on Sindh onions and potatoes. "Potatoes, coming from the cold storage, is rotten," they said.
The retailers said the increase in the prices would continue till the arrival of the next crop from Punjab in about a couple of months.
However, the prevailing situation indicates further jump in the prices.
Moreover, the shortage of irrigation water has also affected the sowing of green vegetables. The sowing of vegetables, like pumpkin, guwar phalli etc is also affected. Pumpkin was being sold at Rs 22 and guwar at Rs 40 per kilogram, said the retailers.
The exporters, when contacted, said that a small quantity of potatoes was being exported to Sri Lanka, but now it had been completely stopped, as Pakistan could compete in the world market because of high prices of onions and potatoes.
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