LAHORE, Sept. 5: Pakistan’s first pesticides manufacturing plant will open by the end of this month near Lahore.

Announcement was made at a ceremony here on Tuesday with the provincial agriculture minister Arshad Khan Lodhi in chair. Delegates from China who collaborated with the Ali Akbar Group for the installation of the plant were also present.

It will produce around 600,000 liters of pesticides and help save Rs4 billion in foreign exchange by reducing the import bill.

The plant would not only meet 40 per cent of domestic pesticides requirements but also export its products to other countries in the region. This is the first plant of its kind in the region and African continent. The local investor has 51 per cent share while the Chinese will monitor the production side with 49 per cent share.

On the occasion, Mr. Chu Ning, head of the 14-member Chinese delegation, which included pesticides manufacturers, seed breeders and farmers, said both countries could cooperate in enhancing yield of different crops. The Chinese farmers were getting much higher per acre yield than their Pakistani counterparts. China could help Pakistan in that field.