Pakistani government is firmly committed to strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural export base, particularly in the citrus sector, through innovation, value addition, and quality enhancement aimed at boosting exports to China and other international markets, Gwadar Pro reported quoting a top official. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, speaking on the sidelines of the Agri Expo Sargodha, highlighted that citrus, especially Kinnow mandarin, remains one of Pakistan’s signature export commodities with immense potential in China and beyond.

“Our priority is to regain our competitive position in international citrus markets by modernizing the entire value chain, from farm to foreign buyers,” he said. He noted that the Ministry of Commerce was actively supporting initiatives to improve agricultural practices, enhance compliance with international phytosanitary standards, and upgrade the logistics infrastructure necessary for temperature-controlled exports, especially to China, which has emerged as a high-value destination for Pakistani fruit.

At the Expo, the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) organized a comprehensive technical workshop titled “Enhancing Citrus Quality and Export Competitiveness: Pest and Disease Control Measures, Harvest and Post-Harvest Management, and Effective Logistics Solutions.” The session drew a large audience of citrus growers, exporters, and agricultural researchers.

Experts from the Citrus Research Institute (CRI), Sargodha, shared insights on pest control, harvest optimization, and post-harvest management techniques to improve fruit quality and reduce export losses. The PHDEC also distributed Urdu-language citrus manuals to help farmers adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and modern orchard management systems aligned with international standards.

To streamline export logistics, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) introduced its reefer container transport solutions, ensuring efficient, temperature-controlled citrus shipments for the upcoming season starting in December. Minister Jam Kamal Khan lauded the collaboration between growers, exporters, and logistics providers, calling such partnerships vital for sustainable growth.

“Pakistan has the natural potential; now we must focus on quality, consistency, and market diversification—especially deepening access to China and new export destinations,” he emphasized. The PHDEC reaffirmed its continued commitment to working under the Ministry of Commerce to strengthen the citrus value chain and position Pakistan as a trusted supplier of premium agricultural products in global markets.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China