KARACHI: After missing the kinno export target for three consecutive years, the country has finally met the goal by exporting 0.2 million tonnes of the produce this season.

During the past four months, Pakistan exported 221,000 tonnes of the citrus fruit worth $132.70 million.

While further export of around 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes is expected in the remaining 20 days of this season making the final export figure to around 230,000 tonnes, Chairman All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA), Waheed Ahmed said in a statement on Friday.

The country had exported 225,000 tonnes of kinno in previous season.

He said that the Commerce Ministry had banned kinno exports before December 2012 to avoid losses through export of poor quality of fruit and this step helped meeting export target.

In this season around 40 per cent of export went to Russia while the rest to the traditional buyers including Gulf countries, Bangladesh, Eastern Europe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Canada, Malaysia and others, the press release said.

“However, the loss of Iranian market as a result of US sanctions and following reluctance in issuing E-form by Pakistani banks caused loss of a lucrative market of 80,000 tonnes depriving Pakistan $40 million of foreign exchange earning,” the PFVA statement added.

“Meanwhile, the Indonesian market also remains untapped despite an already signed preferential trade agreement waiting for the finalisation of some formalities.

“Indonesia can potentially be a market of 54,000 tonnes but the current export level is nowhere near it in the absence of implementation of the trade agreement between the two countries,” Ahmed lamented.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.