KARACHI, July 28: Price of betel nuts has touched to Rs900- 1,000 per kg at the retail levels from Rs120-140 per kg in May owing to acute shortage, caused by seizure of around 500 containers by the Customs Authorities.

Price of betel nuts has been under pressure since January this year due to withholding of containers by the Customs for betel nuts being fungus-infested. In January, price of betel nuts was ranging between Rs 27-30 per kg.

However, there is still a confusion over actual number of containers detained by the Customs. Importers say that actually 700-800 containers have been awaiting clearance from the port since January, while Customs officials say that 500 containers have been held back.

“There is an acute shortage of betel nuts in the markets as shopkeepers in many areas are demanding Rs 1,100-1,200 per kg,” a market survey reveals.

As a result of shortage, an importer said that smuggled betel nuts had found way into the market through various illegal channels since large quantities of the commodity had been seized at the port.

Sources in Customs said that the Appraisement Collectorate had registered a case in which an importer has brought betel nuts by mixing it with dates.

An official at the Appraisement Collectorate said that not a single kg of betel nut has been released by the Customs since January.

The supari makers have now started feeling the pinch of the increasing rates of betel nuts coupled with Sindh chief minister’s approval on imposing ban on sweat supari, gutka and manipuri.

The chairman, All Pakistan Saunf Supari Packers Association (APSSPA), S.M. Ghayasuddin told Dawn that three to four leading supari makers (only sweat chalia) have suspended their production, sales and supplies due to shortage of betel nuts and skyrocketing rates. Even sweat supari makers have also got affected.

There are 14-16 members of APSSPA in the organised sector while there are no figures of units in the informal sector. An estimated 100-150 employees are working in each of the units in the formal sector.

Commenting on Sindh CM’s decision to ban sub-standard supari, he said on what grounds the government had banned

the supari. He said there is no specific standards that can surely reveal the product quality. There is also no effective law to check the sub-standard supari.

“The government should prepare standards by consulting leading doctors, scientists and food experts to ascertain the quality of products before imposing any ban on supari,” he said adding that a complete ban without any homework would result in smuggling of the product.

He was of the view that a law should be formulated restricting sales of supari to the children. Warning for restricting the sales to children should be printed on the supari. He said the association is very keen to help the government in formulation of such laws.

The issue of releasing the betel nuts from the port may take some more time as the Sindh High Court (SHC) in the third week of this month had restrained customs authorities from releasing any consignment of betel nuts till it passes an order about two fungus infested consignments, the subject matter of a constitutional petition it is hearing.

A division bench, comprising justice S.A. Sarwana and Justice Zia Pervaiz had decided to send the sample to the Aga Khan Laboratories to ascertain whether the sample were fit for human consumption.