Floriculture: PCJCCI chief for joint ventures between Pakistan, China

President Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) Zarak Khan has said that there is a vast scope of joint ventures between Pakistan and China in the field of floriculture.

He was speaking at a think tank session held here on Thursday. He said the joint ventures in floriculture industry with China could be very prolific for Pakistan as the country is blessed with favourable agro climatic conditions, cheap labour and easily available variety of soils required for a resilient floriculture sector.

Zarak Khan said that in recent years, flower production had increased in Kasur, Sheikhupura, Chunian, Okara, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Gujranwala and over hundred varieties of flowers were being produced in these cities; the most prominent are carnations, jasmine, tulips, poppies and roses in dozens of colors. He said that an investor in the floriculture sector of Pakistan could get maximum profit by making the product value-added for supplies to hotels as flower baskets, bouquets and bunches for direct export. Further, northern areas have very rich flora and germplasm which still are not properly being utilized for export business, he said pointed out that value-added products like essential oil of rose, tube rose, jasmine etc and plants extracts used in medicines and pharmaceutical industry should also be explored to win the export markets of China and other countries of world.

The Chinese representatives, who were present in the session, said that change in lifestyle and better standard of living in China had increased the demand of cut flowers due to increasing celebrations of different ceremonies in the Chinese society. They agreed that Pakistan could promote its exports of floriculture to China through joint ventures with the Chinese counterparts.

Currently, the major cities Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong are the most important assumption markets for Pakistani cut flowers, they said adding that due to only 10 percent arable land available and high labor cost in China, it had become a need of China to transfer its production facilities to the developing world where the resources are sufficient and labor is cheap.

Speaking on this occasion, PCJCCI Senior Vice President Moazzam Ghurki said that currently floriculture in the country is in embryonic stage. There is lack of resources and skilled persons to develop the industry up to international standards; therefore, Chinese stakeholders could be helpful in producing skilled personals and explore new means to ensure survival of our farmers and explore new marketing ways to save our economy as well as increasing the exports.

He suggested establishing training centers and model nurseries in Pakistan with latest planting technologies. Pakistan direly needs a "cool chain" which would ensure flowers/plants to be kept in suitable environment, he said adding that the "cool chain system" covering the whole country could save about the 40 percent production, which is wasted due to absence of proper cold storage facilities and improper handling.