ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Trading Corporation of Pakistan has expressed its inability to purchase 25,000 tons of onions from Balochistan because of financial constraints.

However, the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet (ECC) would decide on Thursday whether to accept the TCP’s excuse for not buying the surplus onions or follow the Ministry of Commerce request to bail out Balochistan farmers.

The ministry, said sources, had informed the government that bumper onion crop this year was contributing nothing to the farmers community as the market price had 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 Ministry of Commerce had proposed that the TCP be directed to lift the whole onion produce from Balochistan and from other areas where possible to export the produce abroad.

The sources said the TCP had opposed the move saying that it was short of funds to purchase 25,000 tons of onions. It also says it was not familiar with the onions handling.

The ECC, to be presided over by the finance minister, would also review stocks position and availability of essential commodities and petroleum products in the market and their prices. It 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.