ISLAMABAD, March 25: Pakistan’s export of citrus rose by 30 per cent to 109,497 tons till February 25, 2006 as against 80,950 tons during the same period of the last year. Official figures released here indicated that in terms of containers, Pakistan dispatched 4,368 containers during the period under review as against 3,023 containers the same period last year.

Of these 1,019 containers shipped to Russia followed by 665 containers to Dubai, 526 to Philippines, 360 to Saudi Arabia and 495 to Iran.

Rest of the containers went to the UAE (266 containers), Singapore (60), Sri Lanka (164), Ukraine (94), Rotterdam (117), Mauritius (30) and others (387) during the period under review.

According to an official of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB), Iran had reduced customs duty to 5 per cent from 30 per cent from Feb 20, 2006 which would boost the export of citrus.

Indonesia which used to consume around 40 per cent of Pakistan’s citrus export had increased duty from 5 per cent to 25 per cent last year and drove Pakistani citrus out of local market by rendering it uncompetitive.