Iran offers to waive tariffs on agri-products

Food minister says Pakistan can export citrus fruit, rice, mango and vegetables

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces several challenges but with right policy interventions it can be transformed, remarked Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam.

In a meeting with Iranian Ambassador Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Tuesday, the minister said that the agriculture sector of Pakistan had been following traditional techniques and there was a need to look ahead in terms of modernisation.

He appreciated the Iranian government’s offer to waive tariffs on export of agricultural products from Pakistan.

“Pakistan has immense potential for export of citrus fruit, rice, mango, onion, potato, fishery and livestock products,” he said. “In fact, the country can meet the entire rice demand of Iran.”

Citing figures, he said that Pakistan could export up to 8 million tons of rice.

On the other hand, the country shipped nearly 144,000 tons of mangoes abroad and it could enhance its exports to Iran as well, he said.

Imam added that Iran had expertise in the floriculture sector and exchange of such talent could benefit both sides.

Speaking on the occasion, Hosseini said that Iran imported numerous agricultural products from Pakistan.

“Iran imports 5,000 tons of citrus fruit from Pakistan,” he said. “We also import rice from Islamabad and there is a huge demand for Pakistani livestock, red meat and fishery products in Iran.”

He pointed out that his country was exporting 104 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan.

Iran and Pakistan had a 900km-long border and both countries should take advantage of it to support each other, he said.

Hosseini offered to exchange Iran’s technical knowledge of floriculture with Pakistan.

Ministry of National Food Security and Research Secretary Tahir Khursheed said that the long border between the two countries could play a huge role in perishable goods trade.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2022.

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