ISLAMABAD: President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain Thursday lauded the government to ban export of fruit and vegetable in wooden boxes which has improved earnings of mango exporters by 100 percent.
Mango exporters earned 1.1 million dollars in first five days of export while they got $500 per tonne as compare to $250 per tonne last year due to ban on using wooden boxes for fruit and vegetable exports, said a press release here.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that mango exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Oman are in full swing but exports to Iran may suffer due to quality issues.
He poited that Iran which imports 25 percent of all the mango exports from Pakistan has raised objections over the quality of mango which can result in total or partial ban.
Pakistan's mango trade with Iran seems to be under threat due to the negligence of authorities who are not following due procedures thus hitting efforts to boost exports, he noted.
Certificates are being issued to some exporters illegally despite the fact that the fruit they intend to export has not received the necessary hot water treatment which is hurting Pakistan's image.
Three consignments were intercepted last year by Iranian authorities as the fruit was found infected. Iran has already banned kinnow imports from Pakistan due to the same reason.
Due to the efforts of the government a delegation of Iranian Quarantine Department would come soon to review the prospects of hot water treatment plants.
Mango exports to Iran would rise further if plants are approved during the visit as twenty nine hot water treatment plants are operational this year as compared to last year's three.
Global warming is to pose serious threats to the production of fruit and vegetables and an effective strategy is needed to address it, he said adding that with focus on research and development and new varieties, and citrus export could be increased to $1 billion.
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