MULTAN, Oct 6: The All Pakistan Mango Exporters Association has urged the authorities concerned to increase PIA’s space quota for the export of fresh fruit and vegetables from Multan.

Association’s president Ghulam Saddiq claimed on Saturday that out of this year’s 300 tons target for Multan, 290 tons mangoes had been exported by the end of September.

He was speaking at a press conference here. Association secretary-general Malik Muhammad Faheem and finance secretary Ijaz Rasool were also present.

Mr Saddiq said that owing to non-availability of facilities to handle fresh fruits at the Multan airport, the area exporters preferred to send their consignments abroad either through Karachi or Lahore airports.

“This does not mean that exporters of Multan can not achieve the targets,” he added.

He said that the business community in general and mango exporters in particular had been demanding that Multan airport should be upgraded. “If the proposed facilities are made available here, exporters from other parts of the country will prefer to send their consignments through Multan airport,” he added.

However, Mr Saddiq hailed the services of the local offices of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and PIA cargo to facilitate mango exporters against all odds.

BA,BSc results: The Bahauddin Zakariya University will declare on Oct 9 the results of BA, BSc first annual examination 2001.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry will be the chief guest at the ceremony to be held at the executive hall of MBA department at 4 pm. — Correspondent