Due to steps taken by the government for enhancing the export of fruits and vegetables, foreign exchange of US $45 million was earned through the export of 200,000 tons of citrus during the year 2005-06.
This was observed in a meeting of Agricultural Marketing held to review the facilities for the exporters of fruits and vegetables, disclosed an official here on Friday.
The meeting was informed that the export of other fruits and vegetables remained satisfactory. It reviewed the export figure for the year 2004-05 and observed that a foreign exchange of US $90 million was earned through export of fruits where vegetables of worth US $50 million were exported during the year 2004-05.
The meeting was told that a comprehensive strategy has been chalked out to increase the export of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Fruit and vegetable graders are being installed at Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Multan and Rahimyar Khan. A project is underway for development of mango in Multan and Rahimyar Khan Districts.
Similar projects have been launched for citrus in Sargodha and Toba Tek Singh districts and for vegetables in district of Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Lahore, Kasur, Okara and Rawalpindi. The objective of the project also includes popularisation and promotion of off-season vegetable production at low cost through tunnel technology. Modernised Citrus Resource Centre is being set up in Bhalwal to improve the storage system of this produce so as to encourage the exports.