BEIJING, Jan 14: China has decided to allow import of Pakistani orange (kinoo) with immediate effect, under a recent protocol signed by the two countries, it was officially stated here on Saturday.

China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has approved seven fruit processing companies in Pakistan to export kinoo forthwith. The companies are: Roshan Enterprises, Hasan and Chase International, National Fruit Factory, Arif Overseas, Zahid Kinoo Grading and Waxing Plant, Sadruddin and Company and Al-Mahmood Establishment.

Sources told APP that the Pakistani side had been asked to provide a list of orchards from where the fruit would be exported to China. It has been decided that the China’s quarantine department will send two inspectors to Pakistan for a pre-clearance of the fruit’s quality before its loading. It would help expedite the export process, the sources added.

According to the sources, the arrangements for the export of Pakistani food products were thoroughly discussed in a meeting held here last week between AQSIO Vice-Minister Ge Zhirong and a Pakistani delegation led by Food and Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Ismail Qureshi.

The two sides decided to set up a working group at the ministerial level to review and resolve the difficulties that may arise from time to time in the export handling.

During the meeting, the Chinese side agreed to evolve a mechanism to accelerate the process of issuing quarantine certificates for the import of other food items from Pakistan. The AQSIQ also showed willingness to consider the import of Pakistani citrus fruit from Guangdong and Shenzen ports, in additions to those already earmarked.—APP