Mango Pulp Plant: commercial production to begin during current mango season

Chairman Board of Management Agro Food Processing Facility (AFP) and President Mango Growers Co-operative Society Zahid Hussain Gardezi has said the Mango Pulp Plant established by Smeda, Ministry of Industries & Production in Multan would go into commercial production during current mango season.
He said the trials were carried out with mangoes of Sindh as the crop of Southern Punjab is not ready as yet. The processing was done in the presence of two Italian engineers from Betruzzi, Italy, the suppliers of the processing line, to make final adjustments and rectify problems detected during last year trials before the start of mango season in Southern Punjab.
Gardezi said that the marketing department of AFP headed by Major Syed Zahid Ali Bukhari (Retd), Member Board of Management is in touch with potential buyers of mango pulp locally and abroad. Pepsico International Quality Management team from Pakistan and Bangkok, which visited AFP during the trial on Sindh mango were satisfied with the facility and has approved AFP as it meets international standard.
He said AFP would now commence production of a large quantity of pulp during the current week in the presence of Italian engineers to obtain a clear performance guarantee from the supplier of machinery in Italy. Gardezi said that it is heartening that AFP has received couple of confirmed bookings from mango growers of the region to acquire mango pulp while representatives of multinationals have also contacted the marketing head.
The management of AFP will now commence commercial production as soon as mangoes are available from Multan area and when a go ahead signal regarding performance and final fitness certificate is issued by Italian engineers which is expected very soon. The project is also under HACCP certification process, which shall be obtained before this weekend. Zahid Gardezi appreciated the support extended by CEO Smeda Shahid Rashid in achieving the objectives of Agro Food Processing facilities.