KARACHI, April 27: Shipments of kinno (citrus fruit) to Iran and Ukraine for the first time have helped exports surge by over 50 per cent during this season.

According to sources at the Fruits and Vegetable Processors and Exporters Association (FVPEA), kinno exports amounted to 160,000 tons by April 15 compared to 117,000 tons during the same period last year. The figure does not include illegal exports (smuggling) made through the Chamman border to Iran and Afghanistan.

The sources said that spectacular export performance had been made despite a 25pc import duty imposed by Indonesia, the main buyer of Pakistani citrus fruit in the past.

Iran, a new market for Pakistani kinno, this year received 21.3 million kg of the fruit, followed by Russia 31.2 million kg, the Philippines 17.2 million kg, Saudi Arabia 1.31 million kg and Dubai 23.4 million kg.

Despite an agreement with China, kinno exports to the Chinese market could not take off due to tough quarantine conditions, the sources described.

FVPEA Chairman Mateen Siddiqui while talking to Dawn expressed dismay over the role of the ministry of commerce and Export promotion Bureau which were not at all helpful in boosting exports to the present new heights. He said the outstanding performance achieved in kinno exports had been made through the sole efforts and hard work of the exporters.

He appealed to the ministry of commerce to take up the issue of import duty on kinno with the Indonesian government which this year received only 180,000 kg of the commodity. Similarly, he said the Chinese authorities should be approached for softening of quarantine conditions so that exports of fruits and vegetable mandated under an agreement could take place.