KARACHI, Aug 2: A two-member technical delegation from Chinese department of general administration, quality supervision and quarantine arrived here on Friday to explore possibilities of importing mango from Pakistan.

The team during its week-long stay will ascertain health, pest, production, transportation aspects of mangoes.

China is a big market for mangoes, and the government has requested China to lift ban on import of mangoes from Pakistan. The delegation, after going back to China will submit its report to the government.

Sources said that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) was hopeful that the visit would pave the way for export of mangoes and other fruits and vegetables to China. The delegation on Friday, held a meeting with director general EPB, Syed Arshad Ali and other senior officials of the department of plant protection in the EPB head office.

The delegation inquired about the prevalence of certain pests, their management, besides other issues relating to production and export of mangoes.

The DG EPB and officials of plant protection department as well as prominent mango exporters replying to their queries emphasised that there are no serious pest problems and the country is already successfully exporting mangoes to developed countries in Europe, Far East and Middle East.

Later the Chinese delegation visited two mango processing plants in Karachi and also visited quarantine facilities of department of plant protection, in Malir, Karachi. Besides, they were also shown vapour heat treatment plant, at Karachi Airport for generating research data on treatment of mangoes for fruit flies.

The delegation will also go to Multan and visit mango orchards, packing plants, and research centre at Shujaabad. The delegation also plans to visit mango orchards in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and then will proceed to Islamabad where they will hold a wrap up meeting with senior officials of EPB and Ministry of Food and Agriculture.