Pakistani citrus has witness significant growth in the current season as citrus exports went up by 25,000 tons as compared to the last season. This was revealed by Nauman Aslam, chief executive officer, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC), while addressing, "End of season seminar on citrus" in collaboration with the College of Agriculture, the University of Sargodha.

Highlighting the factors behind this increase, Aslam said that due to the government's supportive and friendly policies, international demand for Pakistan citrus had gradually increased, particularly in the Central Asia region.

He said that compared to last year, the capacity of exporters had also increased who had been able to generate additional exportable surplus with the help of the growers.

Aslam said that the Ministry of Commerce was finalising Strategic Trade Policy Framework, which contained various interventions that would benefit horticulture value chain.

He informed the gathering that the recent approval of the Geographical Indications Bill from the National Assembly was a positive sign for Pakistan's indigenous goods, which included a number of agriculture products.

"This will not only strengthen supply base of these products but also grant them exclusive rights through registration and export facilitation," Aslam told the audience.

The PHDEC plans to conduct awareness and technical seminars on other horticulture products in the coming months for the benefit of the growers and the exporters.

The seminar was attended by over 100 participants representing citrus growers, exporters, processors, service providers, and academia.

Eminent speakers from the farmer community, exporters, and Agriculture Research and Extension Services and Department of Plant Protection, presented their perspectives.