By Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistanis stepping up efforts to turn its prized mango crop into a stronger export earner, with the Department of Plant Protection securing fresh progress in China and pursuing approvals across several other high-potential markets.

According to official documents of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Department of Plant Protection is actively working to expand international market access for Pakistani mangoes through regular engagement with national plant protection organisations of importing countries. The effort is part of the government’s export enhancement strategy. It focuses on increasing the number of approved treatment facilities, securing approvals for additional mango varieties, and opening new export destinations.

The strongest progress has come from China, which has recently registered seven additional Hot Water Treatment facilities for Pakistani mangoes. The development is significant because it directly enhances Pakistan’s capacity to process mangoes for export under quarantine and phytosanitary requirements.

Pakistan is currently exporting mangoes to 35 countries, while it has market access to more than 70 countries. The official brief shows that the department is now trying to convert this wider access into stronger export opportunities by submitting pest risk analysis dossiers, treatment protocols, technical information, compliance documents and responses to quarantine-related queries raised by importing countries.

The department has also established virtual and physical verification processes and held bilateral meetings to expedite approvals. These efforts are aimed at strengthening confidence in Pakistan’s phytosanitary system and demonstrating compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Alongside China, progress is being pursued in several other markets. Australia is reviewing Pakistan’s request for approval of additional Hot Water Treatment facilities. A virtual meeting with the Australian side was held on April 15, 2026, where Pakistan made efforts to convince Australia to accept additional hot-water-treated mango facilities. The documents show that three Hot Water Treatment facilities, Pak Horti Fresh, Iftikhar Ahmed and Co., and Mustafa Agriculture Farm, along with one irradiation facility, PARAS Food, have already been approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia for mango exports, and the matter remains under review.

Japan is another important market where Pakistan is seeking further progress. Pakistan is already exporting mangoes to Japan through a Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) plant. Japan is considering approval of an additional VHT facility and additional mango varieties, including Anwar Ratol, Dusehri, Baganphali and Nelum. A clarification was received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan regarding the Chaunsa sub-variety group, and Pakistan submitted its response on June 3, 2026.

The Republic of Korea has also been approached for approval of additional Hot Water Treatment facilities, while market access initiatives are being actively pursued with Türkiye, Jordan and South Africa through technical engagement, verification arrangements and bilateral consultations.

The National Plant Protection Organisation of Jordan is expected to visit Pakistan between July 20 and July 31, 2026, for on-site verification of mango processing facilities, based on dates proposed by Pakistan. Approval from Jordan’s Ministry of Agriculture is currently in process, after which the visit and necessary arrangements will be finalised.

South Africa has already completed virtual verification of mango treatment facilities on June 10 and 11, 2026. A response was received on June 29, 2026, and is currently under evaluation.

The United States case is also moving through technical review. Pakistan has submitted additional information regarding Hot Water Treatment, Vapour Heat Treatment and irradiation treatment protocols. The matter remains under review with the US authorities for granting pre-arrival supervised clearance to Pakistan’s irradiation treatment facilities. An unofficial response received on May 11, 2026, indicated that the case was under review by the USA pest risk assessment team.

At the same time, the department is following up on pending Pest Risk Analysis cases with Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, Argentina and Bangladesh. Vietnam has informed Pakistan that it is working in priority order covering potato, citrus and mango. Mexico and Thailand cases remain under correspondence after submission of dossiers and repeated reminders. Argentina’s case is also awaiting response after Pakistan submitted replies to technical and phytosanitary import requirement queries. Bangladesh has assured that it will convey phytosanitary import conditions for Pakistani mango exports soon.

The documents show that Pakistan’s mango export strategy is moving on several fronts at the same time. With China registering seven additional treatment facilities and other countries reviewing Pakistan’s requests, the country is seeking to strengthen its approved export infrastructure, diversify access and place Pakistani mangoes in more international markets.

Credit: INP-WealthPk