July 25, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1424

BEIJING, July 24: The Chinese Quarantine and Quality Control Bureau has declared Pakistani mango pest-free and agreed to issue quarantine certificate allowing import of Pakistani mango.

In this connection a formal protocol would be signed next month, official sources told APP here on Thursday.

Chinese experts recently visited agriculture farms in Pakistan to examine the pests-control and export management system. After thorough study, they admitted that Pakistani mango met the required quality and hygienic standard.

Shahid Mahmood, commercial counsellor in Pakistan Embassy, confirmed that the Chinese authority had given the consent allowing the import of Pakistani mango. “Now we are working on a draft protocol for its final approval,” he added.

He expressed the hope that Pakistani mango would be available in the Chinese market form the next season.

The Embassy has already approached the Quarantine Bureau, seeking permission for the export of Pakistani rice, citrus and dates. “We are hoping a big market in China for Pakistani food products,” he added.

According to an estimate, China’s annual domestic import market of farm produce had exceeded $10 billion in the recent year. This will continue to show upward trend with growth of population and increase in per capital income of the Chinese people.

The sources suggested that Pakistani businessmen should have joint ventures with their Chinese counterparts to fetch maximum number of buyers of Pakistan’s fruits, both in fresh and canned.

The country of around 1.5 billion people, presently imports mango from Thailand. It was such a large market that it could consume a quantity of mangoes equal to Pakistan’s current mango exports.—APP