October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 17: Pakistan’s mango exports hit a new record this season, which terminated by mid-October, by sending out 135,000 tons of fruit and beating the previous highest of 105,000 tons.

According to Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board officials, 78.14 per cent consignments went to the Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, followed by Europe (14.8 per cent), the Far East (0.7 per cent) and others (6.1 per cent).

The government had set an initial target of 100,000 tons this year, which was later increased to 120,000 tons due to healthy crop. But, the actual figure touched 135,000 tons, surpassing last year’s record of 105,000 tons.

Commenting on the increase, board’s chairman Saadat Ijaz Qureshi says that the decisive factor was the weight standardisation for export, which created confidence among foreign importers.

The board was able to convince the government about the utility of the weight fixation of all exports.

The government agreed and all exports were structured in standard weights.

Mr Qureshi claimed that the mango exports could have been even better had Europe experienced usual hot summer this season.

Weather variations, triggered by global warming had affected European summer, and also Pakistan’s mango exports.

The board is now trying to get weight standardisation for kinnoo exports from this season, he said and added: “The country will hopefully perform even better in kinnoo exports once the weight standardisation is in place.

In order to ensure weight and quality issues, the board is also starting pre-shipment inspection (PSI).”

Mr Shamoon Sadiq, the chief executive officer (CEO), of the board says that first farms in the country had got EurepGAP certification, a mandatory certification for export to high price European market.