Private sector, govt on board in fruit matter

Ban on wooden crates welcomed by exporters; opens up markets for Pakistan.

KARACHI: After three years, the government has finally succeeded in winning the support of the private sector to completely ban the use of wooden crates in fruit exports.

The government and the private sector are convinced that the decision will not only help improve the quality of packaging but also open up new markets in those countries that do not accept wooden crates.

At present, Pakistan exports most of its fruits and vegetables in corrugated cartons because almost every other country demands modern packaging. The only exceptions are UAE and Oman, the two countries that are used as dumping ground of Pakistani mangoes. Due to this unhygienic packaging, the country gets the lowest possible prices in the Middle East.

The UAE is also a very important hub for re-exports and a huge quantity of Pakistani fruits goes to Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain etc via Dubai. However, Pakistan had not been able to re-export much of its produce as many Middle Eastern countries have already banned fruit imports in wooden crates.

“UAE and Oman authorities have been showing displeasure over the use of unhealthy wooden crates but Pakistani exporters or authorities never pay attention to this problem,” a fruit exporter said.

“It is better to improve quality before any of the governments slap a ban on Pakistan’s food imports because of unhealthy packaging.”

Ministry of National Food Security and Research has recently placed a ban on the use of wooden crates in fruit and vegetable exports, a move that was welcomed by the private sector. The same exporters were resisting any such government initiative in the past.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.

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