Geographical indication stressed for Sindhri mango
A vendor sells mangoes on a street in Karachi. Mangoes are plucked raw from trees then packed in crates with a sachet of calcium carbide to ripen them on way to the market. PHOTO: EXPRESS
April 19: At least 200 diverse indigenous products of Pakistan, mostly agricultural, have high potential for exports if these can be properly marketed globally. The speakers at a seminar, organized by Sindhri Mango Geographical Indication (GI) project at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, on Friday pointed out a range of items which can be exported to different parts of the world.
Peter Damary, the international consultant for the project, highlighted the significance of geographical indication registration for numerous products in Pakistan, including those from Sindh. According to him, mango, orange, chilies, basmati rice, dry and soft dates as well as handicrafts like Sindhi cap and ajarak can all be traded in the global markets.
He suggested that those products should be labelled and marketed as made in Pakistan to promote and boost both national and international trade. The national consultant for the project, Noor Asfia, believed that over 200 products in the country are eligible for global branding.
She urged the academia and the industry to play their respective roles to accomplish the export objective. She observed that a town in Umerkot district, Kunri, alone contributed 83% to the country's requirement of chillies and 3% to the global exports.
Asifa apprised that they have registered the bangles manufacturing industry in Hyderabad in the GI. Director of Advanced Studies, Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, stated that besides agricultural products, items such as Sindhi caps, handicrafts, and cultural artifacts can also be registered in the GI project.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2024.