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550,000 tonnes surplus onion export to Brunei discussed

LAILA A ALI

QUETTA: At a high-level meeting held here means for exporting Balochistan exportable 550,000 tonnes surplus onion to oil-rich Brunei state have been devised. Chaired by agriculture secretary Maj. Ali Raza (Retd) and attended by the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman, Sardar Mohammad Ali Jogezai, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) director Sarwar Brohi, importers and exporters, the meeting considered Brunei offer for the purchase of Balochistan surplus onion.

Also came under consideration, snags such as marketing and shipping of surplus onion from Balochistan to Brunei, Bangladesh, Far East and Middle East including Gulf States.

Onion as a perishable commodity requires refrigerated containers for marketing and shipment, from Balochistan. There is deplorable lack of such facilities in Balochistan. Balochistan's onion would require atleast 21 days to reach its destination in Brunei, Bangladesh and Far Eastern countries from Karachi Port.

The meeting decided to approach the federal govt with the proposal for speedy shipment of Balochistan's exportable surplus onion, fruits, vegetables to Brunei, Bangladesh, Far East and Middle Eastern including Gulf countries.

It also decided that traders delegations from Balochistan should be sent to the foreign countries to find profitable markets for Balochistan exportable fruit, vegetable, onion and potatoes surplus as well as embroidered ready-made garments, with closer cooperation and coordination of EPB.