April 5, 2003	Saturday	Safar 2, 1424

ISLAMABAD, April 4: The government is expected to direct the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to purchase around 0.5 million tons of surplus onions from the farmers for export.

Official sources told Dawn that Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet will meet on Monday formally take a decision on the subject.

The Ministry of Commerce, said the sources, has informed the government that bumper onion crop this year was contributing nothing to the farmers community as the market prices have gone too low.

The farmers, particularly in Balochistan, were facing difficulties to get reasonable price and most of the produce could not even be taken to the market.

The commerce ministry has proposed that the TCP be directed to lift the whole onion produce from Balochistan and from other areas where possible to export the produce.

The ECC, to be presided over by adviser to the prime minister on Finance, would also review stocks and availability of essential commodities and petroleum products in the market and their prices.

The ECC would also review trade and financial data of the first three quarters of the current fiscal year.

The ECC is also expected to withdraw withholding tax on pre-paid calling cards as proposed by the Science and Information Technology Division, the sources said.