Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Horticulture and Food Exports has demanded of the government to restructure Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) and its chief executive officer should be appointed from amongst those having rich experience of the field.
In a statement issued here on Friday, the Sanding Committee's chairman Ahmad Jawad also urged the government to appoint a new CEO of the PHDEC from private sector so that problems being faced by horticulture export sector could be resolved effectively.
He said that though the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted to increase the country exports up to $50 billion, such a target cannot be achieved without a proper horticulture sector's infrastructure.
He regretted that Pakistan despite having an independent organization in the horticulture sector in the form of PHDEC, the country's contribution towards global horticultural exports was merely 0.3 per cent. Elaborating, he said that the country's horticulture exports stood at $400 million whereas Indian and Chinese exports in the same sector stood at $2.5bn and $18bn, respectively.
He said that although the PHDEC is supposed to facilitate exporters, chalk out strategies aimed at creating linkages and developing products, horticulturists have, so far, failed to see any initiative in the regard. He said that PHDEC was set up keeping in view the potential of horticultural sector in the country, but the organization could not deliver due to internal rifts, thereby forcing exporters to approach TDAP for the resolution of their issues.
He said that European Union is one of the most attractive markets for Pakistani fruits and vegetables because of its consumers' buying capacity. He also deplored that although Pakistan is one of the largest producers of dates, mango and kinnow, its export volume was quite negligible.
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