Pakistan grows over 5.8 million tonnes of fruits and more than 2.9 million tonnes vegetables every year, the official data shows. Among the fruits mango, guava, citrus, apple, pears, banana and dates are the main products. Potatoes and onions are the main vegetables grown in Pakistan. There are 25 fruit processing plants operating in the country in the organised sector along with a number of small and cottage units in the unorganised sector. The total installed capacity of fruit processing plants is around 30,000 metric tonnes per annum, the data showed.
The main importers of Pakistani fruits and vegetables are Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Europe Food and its allied products industry is considered as Pakistan's largest industry.
Major sub-sectors of Pakistan's food industry seafood, dairy, fruit, vegetables and seeds fruit juice concentrate and dates.
According to the data Pakistan is an ideal country for investment in the food sector.
Several foreign firms have entered the market and established their own presence as manufacturers, or established joint ventures with local partners.
The annual milk production has been recorded around 28.6 million tonnes in the year 2003-04 and Pakistan is ranked 5th biggest milk producing country.
Out of the total quantum of milk production, around 20.65 million tonnes is available to the consumers due to poor distribution system.
The real surplus of milk fails to reach the urban consumers.
Pakistan's urban population mostly depend on processed milk and powder milk and the only supply of the powdered milk in the country is the import.
Pakistan imports large quantity of the powdered milk every year and spent foreign exchange to the tune of US $21 million in the year 2003-04 and US $22.76 million in 2002-03. Due to higher population growth against the growth rate of livestock and other factors the demand for powdered milk is increasing.
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