SKARDU, Dec 19: Baltistan Cultural Development Foundation (BCDF) in collaboration with Everest K2 Central National Research (EVK2CNR) on Wednesday launched a modern fruit processing plant in Skardu.

During the launching ceremony, BCDF chairman and former deputy chief executive of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad said the Italian government had funded the project to preserve and promote fruits and agricultural products in the backward region of Baltistan.

He said the plant was comprised fruit dehydration unit, oil extracting unit, fruit packaging unit and fruit washing unit.

Mr Nashad said BCDF and the people of Baltistan thanked the Italian government for funding the introduction of the latest fruit processing technology in Skardu. —Correspondent