HYDERABAD: Foreign and local experts speaking at a seminar highlighted potential of over 200 indigenous products for making inroads into global markets, saying that the Sindhri mango, kinnow, chilies, basmati rice, Sindhi topi, ajrak, lungi and date palm top the list and are also eligible for geographical indication (GI) registration.

The seminar was held under the ‘Sindhri Mango GI Project’ at the Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, the other day. Dr Inayatullah Rajpar, Dean of Faculty of Crop Production, discussed swift global recognition of various indigenous products and critical role of GI registration in maintaining their quality and standards.

“We must play a positive role in earning global acclaim for countless indigenous products in Sindh, including Sindhri mango from Mirpurkhas, henna from Mehar and Tharo Shah, Kunri’s chilies, Mehar city’s barfi, Hyderabad’s bangles, Khairpur’s dates, Larkana’s guava etc,” he added.

Peter Damary, international consultant for Sindhri mango GI project, highlighted merits of geographical indication registration for numerous Pakistani products including those from Sindh.

He said that establishing a “Made in Pakistan” standard for the indigenous products could serve as a potential economic tool for promoting and boosting both national and international trade, enabling Pakistani products to be marketed at premium prices.

National consultant for the project, Ms Noor Asfia, said that over 200 products were ideal for global branding. “It is imperative for us to consider how rest of the world is progressing rapidly. In this regard, academia and industry must play their respective roles,” she stated.

She noted that Kunri, a town in Sindh, contributed 83pc to the country’s chilies exports and three per cent to global exports of the commodity. Hyderabad city’s bangles were registered under the GI following which India’s Hyderabad Deccan also got itself registered, she said.

The university’s advanced studies director, Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, stated that besides agricultural products, items such as Sindhi caps, handicrafts and culture-related products could also qualify for GI registration.

SAU vice chancellor’s adviser on academic affairs Dr Ziaul Hassan Shah, and ORIC director Dr Tanveer Fatima Miano also spoke at the programme.

The event witnessed a large number of faculty and students.

Earlier, the team visited various faculties including Malir and Horticulture mango orchards.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2024