Improving standards: ‘Realise potential of agri products’

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with a delegation of the Islamabad Fruit Merchants Association, Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Shaban Khalid said the private sector was trying its best to improve the standards of hygiene and packaging of agro products as per global standards. He urged the government to develop facilities to help realise the full export potential of agricultural and horticultural products. He said the world horticulture market is valued at $80 billion; but Pakistan, despite being an agricultural economy, has only a marginal share in this huge market. He said the government should take measures for establishing modern cool chains, international standard certification labs, grading and labelling facilities in the country. Khalid said Afghanistan, Russia, Central Asian States, Middle East, Europe and many other regions offer enormous opportunities to promote exports for Pakistani fruit products and businessmen should focus on value addition, quality packaging and advanced marketing techniques.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2014.

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