HYDERABAD, Aug 17: Sindh Agriculture Secretary Nazar Hussain Mahar has expressed dissatisfaction over pace and quality of the Agro-Export Processing Zone Complex for export of fruit and vegetables, flowers and allied processed products being constructed near the wholesale fruit and vegetables market on the Super Highway.

Besides the complex in Karachi spread over 50 acres, seven sub-export processing zone are being set up in Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Badin, Khairpur, Sultanabad and Matiari.

The directorate of the agriculture information in a statement issued on Tuesday, said during the visit, the secretary noticed that there was no technical and supervisory staff to monitor and look after ongoing project of the national importance.

He expressed serious concern on increasing illegal encroachments at the site and directed to remove encroachments with the help of police and government machinery at once.

The objectives of the agro export processing zone include promotion of export of fruits, vegetables and flowers, elimination of middlemen involved from post harvest operation to transportation of these products to overseas markets and development of post harvest operations for these products by using modern material and equipment and improved techniques of handling, sorting and transportation operations.

The zone will increase income of farmers, generate more employment and create new skilled hands for handling grading, packing, sorting, loading and transportation.