US ambassador Cameron Munter on Sunday reiterated US commitment to extend support to Pakistan to increase its mango export capacity. He was addressing a ceremony of opening of a post-harvest handling plant at Lutfabad farm, some 25 kilometres away from Multan, during his first visit to South Punjab.
The plant was installed with 50 percent assistance from USAID and Lutfabad farm is one of farms in Sindh and South Punjab which have or would have the facility for enhanced mango export to high-end international markets.
US Counsel General in Lahore Carmela Conroy, US ambassador's wife Dr Marilyn Wyatt, Mango Growers Association President Muzaffar Khan Khakwani and the owner of the mango farm, Major Tariq (Retd) were also present.
The US ambassador said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had pledged support to Pakistan to enhance its mango export capacity and the promise was being fulfilled. He said that greater access of growers to modern technology and infrastructure facilities to support enhanced export of mango would strengthen the economy and bring prosperity to mango farmers.
He congratulated the mango grower on installation and successful operation of the plant at the mango farm and observed that 128 ton mango export showed the initiative was yielding good results. He said the US had a strong commitment to support Pakistan to improve financial conditions of the people.
Cameron Munter said that industrial growth and exports boosted the economy, which would strengthen Pakistan.
Earlier, the US ambassador visited mango orchards where he himself performed harvesting by modern techniques. Cameron then witnessed the plant in operation for post-harvest handling of exotic Pakistani mango. The plant is a chain of process: a small conveyer belt carries mangoes to the cold water sprinkler that washes the fruit and then passes it on to a hot water treatment facility and then to two phases of drying.
Workers wearing gloves were found busy in separating the damaged fruit from healthy fruit. The fruit was then shifted to blast chiller where its temperature was brought down to 12 degree centigrade and then to the air-conditioned storage facility after three hours treatment at the blast chiller.
Major Tariq (Retd), the farm owner, thanked the US ambassador for visiting the farm and the overall support including modern technological assistance to mango growers in Pakistan.
The US ambassador will also visit Blue Pottery Institute Multan in the evening. He would visit the mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Shams on Monday morning. The ambassador is also expected to meet different delegations during his two-day visit to the city of saints.