November 13, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 7, 1423

KARACHI, Nov 12: There is encouraging demand for Pakistani dates from Bangladesh and Indonesia, countries that were recently visited by a delegation of dates exporters.

This was observed in a meeting of the Dates Exporters and Producers Association of Pakistan (DEPA) held here on Tuesday.

The DEPA chairman Jawed Tarmohammed informed the participants that the country had a good dates this year that has made it self-sufficient in this fruit.

Jawed advised the DEPA members to get prepared for making regular export shipments to these countries as their requirement is very encouraging.

He also informed the members that arrangements are under way for holding detailed meetings with Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) to introduce date exporters with machinery and know-how which is used for value-addition in dates.

Zulfiqar Thaver, convener Union of Small and Medium Enterprises speaking on the occasion said that order are pouring in from all parts of the world for pitted dates and dates blocks (paste) and demand from confectionery manufacturers have also increased.