ISLAMABAD, July 22: Pakistan is facing Rs8.29 million weekly losses as onion export has almost come to a halt after the recent rains damaged the supply chain between Balochistan and Sindh.

On weekly basis, some 800 tons of onion do not reach the Karachi port for supply to international markets. The shortfall might rise further with monsoon rains persisting longer than expected, according to statistics of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB).

The board said Pakistan was unable to exploit the international onion market in the absence of its competitor, India, this year. Pakistan was expected to reap high payback for its bumper onion produce because India had not that much surplus production to export this season. But, the damaged supply chain has crippled the export capability of the country.

The country will even be unable to restart normal onion export during the next month and will miss the lucrative international market and better prices. Pakistan is getting good prices for its onion and if the supply chain is restored earlier the overall agriculture export will go up.