December 25, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 20, 1423

PESHAWAR, Dec 24: The Export Promotion Bureau, NWFP, will establish a fruit storage, processing/treatment and packaging facility in the Frontier province to increase export of fruits from the Frontier province.

According to an EPB press release issued here on Tuesday, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), NWFP, had been assigned the task to prepare a feasibility study. An agreement on conducting feasibility study has also been signed between EPB and Smeda.

“The establishment of the facility would provide specialized services in the field of grading, treatment, processing, storage and packaging practices,” contained the press release.

The feasibility study would be conducted at a cost of Rs200,000, of which an amount of Rs50,000 has also been paid to Smeda as mobilization advance. The study would assess the production capabilities of the province, export potential, marketing opportunities in addition to analyze the present picking, grading, treatment, packing and storage practices required to be applied after setting up the facility.

Besides, the study would also suggest improvements in terms of technology, ascertain the viability of the proposed facility by analyzing its cost and benefits and to propose a workable horticulture export-marketing plan in the light of international practices, the press release added.