ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce would fund and support the establishment of dry port in Sargodha to facilitate export of fruits and minerals produced in the region directly to other countries.

This was decided in the 71st meeting of the board of administrators of the Export Development Fund (EDF) held here under the chairmanship of Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan here on Thursday.

The board decided to conduct a business and technical feasibility study of the proposed dry port for detailed designing and cost estimation of the dry port project from a well-reputed consultant, according to a statement issued by the Ministry.

The meeting was informed that citrus was major exportable item of the region and there were about 250 kinno processing units operating in the region.

According to the statement, the construction of dry port would greatly facilitate export process as all the consignments would be cleared and sealed at the dry port and dispatched to the destination country without having to bother for clearance at the sea-port.

It said that the dry port would also facilitate exporters of minerals, such as gypsum, rock salt and iron ore which are found in the adjoining area.

The dry port will provide them all the clearance facilities at their door-step, thus resulting in an attractive incentive to export their products, he added.

The board approved the establishment of a fruit packaging and processing plant in Quetta.

The plant would provide modern value-addition facilities which would help thousands of fruit farmers of Balochistan to get extra value of the produce. This would help farmers to export their fruits to western countries.

The board also approved a project for expansion of effluent treatment plant established in Korangi which produces electricity using the bio-gas produced in the tanneries.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016