KARACHI: Pakistan’s mango exports to Iran showed no improvement this year as Iran largely rejected the hot water treatment standards followed in the country, according to media.
A high-level delegation of Iran’s quarantine department had visited Pakistan to inspect hot water treatment plants installed by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in various cities, claimed the report.
Sources quoted in the report said the Iranian delegation visited a total of 19 hot water treatment plants and posed satisfaction over four to five plants in their initial report sent to the DPP.
Falak Naz, DPP Director General, was quoted as saying in the report saying that Iran had not shared their reservations. “Every country has its own standards and requirements,” she said. “We are inviting all countries to see our plants.”
“This is private sector investment. We liked Iran to approve all 19 plants they visited, but we couldn’t force them,” she added. “It is according to the demand of the importing country. Now, the season is over. We wish to have more exports next year.”
Pakistan exported 118,000 tons of mangoes till September-end this year, compared with 80,000 tons a year earlier. The exports didn’t include unofficial trade to Iran and Afghanistan.
