ISLAMABAD: The federal government will establish a dry port in Sargodha to facilitate the export of fruits and minerals, produced in the region.
Board of Administrators of the Export Development Fund has asked the Commerce Ministry to fund the establishment of dry port. The board, which met here under the chairmanship of Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, ordered conducting a feasibility study of the proposed dry port, also including detailed designing and cost estimation, from a well-reputed consultant.
According to details, it was discussed in the meeting that citrus was a major exportable item of the region, and there were around 50 kinnows processing units operating in the region.
All the export consignments from the region have to be cleared in Karachi due to the non-availability of the dry port in the area. It was noted that the construction of dry port would greatly facilitate the export process as all the consignments would be cleared and sealed at the dry port, and then dispatched to its destination without having to bother about clearance at the seaport.
This will provide great convenience to the exporters, save considerable amount of time and encourage the exporters.
The board hoped the dry port would also facilitate the exporters of minerals such as gypsum, rock salt and iron ore, which are found in the adjoining areas.
They also expressed the optimism that this would bring extra premium to the artisans, associated with the cottage industry of wooden handicrafts, which are exported to China, Malaysia and Italy.
