Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) has launched a project to make the country self-sufficient in green tea area during next two to three years. In this regard, Pakistan Science Foundation, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) and Tapal Tea Limited signed an MoU for establishment of pilot green tea processing plant in a ceremony held here on Thursday. This project to be executed by National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari with a total cost of Rs 3,150,275 has been initiated under the Industrial Linkages Programme of the PSF with emphasis on applied research.
Applied research provides solutions to industrial problems through technology transfer mechanism and paves the way to self- reliance.
Addressing the ceremony, Chairman PSF, Dr Farid A. Malik said with this initiative the country would become self-sufficient in green tea in next two to three years, subsequently followed by black tea.
"We must emphasise on the commercialisation of indigenous technologies for sustainable socio-economic development, he added.
Chairman Parc, Dr Badruddin Soomro and Fahim Khan, Manager Tapal Tea Ltd also spoke on the occasion. The ceremony was attended by scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs as well as members of the business community. Australian High Commissioner also attended the MoU signing ceremony, showing her keen interest in this important project.
About 260,000 tons of tea was imported in the year 2000 costing Rs 16 billion to the national exchequer. Demand for tea is growing day by day and in the wake of high population growth rate, Pakistan is likely to become the world's largest importer of tea by the year 2010.
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