This was stated by President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Mahfooz Elahi, while chairing a meeting of the sub-committee on food exports.

He said Pakistan exports raw crop while it could achieve a much better result by promoting export of processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, seafood and products of other agro-based industries.

He said that Pakistani processed food products have great potential to earn substantial foreign exchange as some countries vastly rely on imported edibles.

Pakistan has great scope of enhancing export of edibles to other countries including the Gulf by developing its agro-based industries.

The ICCI President said that the government should help farmers to modernize and improve the areas of production, grain growing and harvesting techniques.

He said that the government should also focus on effective development and promotion of special economic and export processing zones.

Mahfooz Elahi said that demand for organic food is increasing world wide, therefore, Pakistan could attract the international market if it pays attention to organic agriculture.

Agriculture experts must be invited to find ways and means for increasing per yield production and developing new varieties for fruits and vegetables.

He suggested that farmers must be educated on growing techniques for optimum production,.

Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2011