Irradiation plants to be set up in Karachi and Lahore

The names of members of board of directors of the company to run the Lahore Irradiation Plant project have been finalised.
The Lahore Irradiation Plant approved by the Export Development Fund (EDF) is being set up jointly by the Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
"The company will become functional after approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)", PHDEB Chief Executive Officer Shamoon Sadiq told APP.
The Export Development Fund had given the go-ahead signal for setting up two irradiation plants at Lahore and Karachi to irradiate food items like cereals, fruits, and vegetables, and processed food through gamma rays treatment.
Shamoon said three members each from PHDEB and PAEC had been included in the board of directors of the company, and hoped that the first meeting of the board of directors would be held within a fortnight.
He said the feasibility report on the Karachi Irradiation Plant was being finalised.
The plants at Lahore and Karachi, when completed, would use gamma rays to kill or slow down the growth of disease causing bacteria and parasites in food and related items, he said, adding the facilities would be primarily used for dis-infection purposes in order to meet international quarantine requirements.