Mango export: government urged to address Iran's objections

President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain has said that Pakistan's mango trade with Iran seems to be under threat due to the negligence of authorities who are not following due procedures, hitting efforts to boost exports. He said that Iran, which imports 25 percent of all mango exports from Pakistan, has raised objections to the quality of mango which can result in total or partial ban.
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 which was not enough to draw attention of the authorities.
Due to the efforts of the government, a delegation of Iranian Quarantine Department is to 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.
However, he lauded the government to ban the 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 ton as compare to $250 per ton last year due to ban on using wooden boxes for fruit and vegetable exports, he said.
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. 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.