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Iran lifts ban on fruits import from Pakistan
LAHORE,March 25: Iran has removed all restrictions
on the import of Pakistani fruits imposed on
health grounds, following tactful persuasion from
the private sector with the backing of the federal
government.
It would provide an access to Pakistani kinoo and
mangoes to the neighbouring market, said a
spokesman for the Pakistan Horticulture
Development and Export Board (PHDEB) here on
Wednesday.
The government has succeeded in removing the
doubts and concerns of the Iranian government
about the health and quality of fruits that has
opened up a large export market for Pakistani
kinoo and mangoes, said the spokesman.
Iranian Plant Quarantine Department has finally
signed an MoU with Pakistan for allowing export of
kinoo and mangoes from Pakistan to Iran, he added.
Actually Iran was interested in increasing import
of fruits, especially kinoo from Pakistan, but it
had certain concerns and reservations about the
health and quality of Pakistani fruits.
Earlier, the Iranian Quarantine Department had
expressed doubt that the citrus fruit of Pakistan
might be contaminated with pest and fruit fly.
Moreover, the Iranian government wanted Pakistani
fruits’ exports to comply with World Trade
Organisation (WTO) rules.
A three-member delegation of experts from the
Iranian Quarantine Department was invited, which
concluded its visit last week. The delegation held
a series of meetings with the officials of EPB,
Plant Protection Department and PHDEB. They also
met with the trade bodies of fruits’ growers and
exporters.
Shamoon Sadiq, Chief Executive Officer of PHDEB,
after holding a detailed meeting, took the
delegation to Bhalwal where they were shown three
main kinoo grading and processing units.
Visiting these units, Mohammad Reza Asghari showed
satisfaction over the post-harvest infrastructure,
the cool chain and transportation mechanism. He
acknowledged that the standards in this mechanism
help fruits retain their quality and texture.
Reza Asghari visited the grading and processing
facilities in this context with a detailed
analysis of cold storage treatment against likely
infestation of fruit flies.
He also visited the kinoo orchards from SPS point
of view and praised Pakistani fruit for its
quality and observed no serious disease in it.
Based on his findings the two governments agreed
to sign a protocol which would allow access of
Pakistani citrus fruit and mangoes to Iran.
The News International, Pakistan |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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