Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries' (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Horticulture and Agricultural Produce has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to announce a policy aimed at promoting export of fruits and vegetables in its upcoming budget. The Standing Committee's chairman Ahmad Jawad also urged the KPK government to take measures for setting up food processing units and modern cold storages under public-private partnership (PPP).
He regretted that although KPK was extremely fertile land for producing quality crops, fruits and vegetables, no proper infrastructure was available there for exporters. He said that it was amazing to note that there is only one DPP official for undertaking quarantine procedure of the produce at Peshawar airport from where around 25 tons of vegetables is exported during off season and 40 tons of vegetables during peak season.
He also criticised the SAPS officials for charging a certain fee from exporters for scanning their shipments at Peshawar airport. Moreover, Customs officials' procedure of checking vegetables shipments at Peshawar airport was also not up to mark, he said, adding that as a matter of fact there is need for manual inspection when scanners are available there.
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