KARACHI, July 4 Jordan has lifted ban on import of mango from Pakistan and the first shipment of 125 tons has already been made, exporters and processors told Dawn on Thursday.

Abdul Qadeer of Durrani Associates, a leading exporter and research outfit, told that the shipment was dispatched after Jordan's quarantine authorities approved the hot water treatment of the fruit at the processing plant on Super Highway.

According to rough estimates, with the start of mango export to Jordan which was banned for five years, mango exports would increase by 2,000 tons.

The MoU for export of mango to Jordan was signed between the quarantine departments of the two countries about two years ago and Durrani Associates was authorised to carry out hot water treatment processing of the fruit and dispatch the results to the Jordan's quarantine department.

Director-General of Plant Protection Department Dr Tasnim confirmed that the Jordan's quarantine officials have approved the hot water treatment of mango and has allowed its import.

Earlier China and Iran approved the processing of mango for export to their respective countries. Export of mango to Iran is in full swing but exports to China, which could not be undertaken last year because of Olympics Games, will begin shortly.

Mr Qadeer, who initiated hot water treatment for kinno in Pakistan years ago, said that quarantine authorities in most countries prefer hot water treatment over vapour hot treatment because the former not only eliminates germs found on the surface of the fruits but also cleans it.

It is believed that the hot water treatment helps preserve fruit quality for 37 days and it could be easily shipped by sea to save the freight cost.

Durrani Associates, which has a modern plant on Super Highway, is now working on a project to export mango to Korea after fulfilling their quarantine conditions.

According to a study due to lack of hot water treatment facilities on a large scale, Pakistan meets only 20 per cent of the world's demand for its quality fruit. The company has plans to set up another hot water treatment plant to accept consignments from private exporters for processing. It is accepting private jobs presently but on a limited scale.