ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has ordered the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for submitting a comprehensive statement on the funds released for the projects
He said this while was chairing a meeting of Board of Directors of Export Development Fund adding that the meeting members have taken decisions on several problems relating to export promotion.
Dastgir also said a helpful mechanism would also be worked out to spend the amount collected under the Export Development Cess for maximum export possibilities. In the meanwhile, the board members appreciated the timely intervention of the Ministry of Commerce at the start of this mango export season to formulate a strategy for pest-free export of mangoes to European Union by enforcing mandatory treatment which resulted in enhancement of Pakistan’s exports to EU.
The minister was informed with fact that last year 237 consignments from Pakistan were rejected by EU due to infestation with fruit-fly but this year only 2 infested consignments were found. The EU also acknowledged and appreciated the job done by the government of Pakistan within a very limited time to make arrangements to export pest-free mangoes to the EU. Last year Pakistan exported 82000 MT of mangoes but this year despite EU’s strict watch on the quality of mangoes, exports rose to 90500 MT which were sold at a higher rate than the previous year.