Prime Minister directs focus on fruits, vegetables export by improving supply chain, meet quality world standards

Islamabad : Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani directed Commerce Ministry and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan TDAP to focus on fruits and vegetables export by improving supply chain and meet quality world standards.

Speaking Wednesday at TDAP presentation on export promotion strategy of fruits, vegetables and related issues at PM House, Gilani noted fruits export doubled and vegetables registered four-fold increase in last four years as compared to previous four years (2004-2008). However, exports were still short of potential, he observed.

He asked Commerce Ministry & TDAP to set up cold storage facilities in Sargodha & Bhalwal for kinnows, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan & Mirpurkhas to increase shelf-life of fruits, vegetables and reach out to research institutions. He urged provinces for maximizing export potential and comprehensive plan to enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, more competitiveness to get higher prices.

He directed strategy be evolved to boost fruits, vegetables export following principles of public, private partnership. TDAP should organize exhibition of quality products in Qatar whose government promised during his visit to extend all-out assistance for holding it to create demand for Pakistani fruits, vegetables.

Secretary Commerce said Pakistan has great potential for fruits, vegetables export and Ministry plans to increase these to world market. Though we are fourth largest producer of dates, we stand at 6th place among its exporting countries on value basis. He said government plans to establish mango pack house, cold storage facility centres at Multan, Nawabshah, Dates processing institute at Khairpur, Agro Food Technology Institute at Lahore, Vapour Heat Treatment Plant facility centre at Karachi. New markets for mangoes, kinnows are Japan, USA, Mauritius, Lebanon, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa & Iran.

Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Secretary Commerce, Secretary Planning & Development, Secretary National Food Security & Research, Chief Executive TDAP were present.