The production of mango, one of the lucrative export items of Pakistan is expected to decline by 40 percent this year in southern Punjab, including Multan.

As per details, unseasonal rains, storms, and other issues have targeted the mango crop, leading to fears of a 40pc decline in the mango crop in the southern Punjab region.

Traders have also canceled contracts to lease mango orchards on the grounds of crop failure, leaving mango growers with heavy financial losses, and in dire straits.

Last year, the production of mango in Punjab was recorded at 1.3 million metric tons, while this year only 800,000 metric tons of mangoes production will be possible, which will be a huge financial loss to farmers.

If the global situation continues to deteriorate in view of the coronavirus, mango exports will also be severely affected.

Earlier, it was learned that Pakistan's mango exports to Iran have been seriously jeopardized this year mainly due to negligence and inefficiency on part of relevant officials of the ministry of commerce and customs, exporters said.

It is feared that this year only around 800 tons of mango will be exported to Iran against the estimated 15,000 tons export under normal circumstances after it was learned that mango consignments are being stuck on the Pakistan-Iran border for the last four days owing to sheer negligence and ill-planning on part of the relevant authorities.