Ahmed Khan Malik

In an effort to strengthen food security, curb post-harvest losses and modernise agricultural value chains, the Sindh government is working on a plan to expand assistance for the province’s storage and cold-chain sector. According to officials, the initiative aims to address long-standing gaps in the handling, preservation and transportation of perishable commodities, including fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products, which form a substantial share of Sindh’s agricultural economy.

A senior official of the Sindh Agriculture Services Centre said the province loses an estimated 25 to 40 percent of perishable produce annually due to inadequate storage and cooling infrastructure. “These losses not only reduce farmers’ incomes but also push up retail prices for consumers,” Faiz Jokhio, Director of Agriculture Services Centre at the Agriculture Department, told Wealth Pakistan. He said strengthening the cold-chain network would help stabilise supplies, reduce waste and enhance the competitiveness of Sindh’s agriculture in domestic as well as international markets.

Under the proposed assistance plan, the provincial government intends to offer a mix of financial incentives, public-private partnership opportunities and technical support to investors in cold storage facilities, refrigerated transportation and climate-controlled packaging units. Incentives under consideration include subsidised loans, tax relief for new cold storage units and grants for upgrading outdated infrastructure. “The objective is to create an enabling environment where private investors view cold-chain development as both feasible and profitable,” Jokhio said.

He added that the Sindh Board of Investment has been tasked with mapping existing cold-chain assets across the province to identify infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where farmers face difficulties in preserving produce before it reaches markets. Preliminary assessments indicate significant shortages in districts such as Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Thatta, which are major hubs for fruits, vegetables and fisheries. These regions are expected to be prioritised in the first phase of expansion.

Beyond infrastructure, the initiative places strong emphasis on technology adoption, including digital temperature monitoring systems, improved packaging materials and automation in storage facilities. “Cold-chain efficiency is not just about having a warehouse; it is about maintaining a controlled environment throughout the entire supply chain, from the farm gate to the retailer,” Jokhio said, adding that technology would play a critical role.

He further noted that the assistance programme would be designed to benefit small and medium agricultural producers, not just large agribusinesses. Plans include the development of community-level cold storage centres and cooperative models to ensure broader access. “Small farmers often sell their produce at throwaway prices because they lack the capacity to store it even for a day,” he said. The Sindh government is expected to finalise the policy framework in the coming months, followed by the launch of pilot projects in selected districts.

Consultations with experts, industry stakeholders and development partners are currently underway to ensure the initiative is sustainable and aligned with international best practices. If implemented effectively, officials believe the initiative could significantly improve Sindh’s agricultural supply chain by reducing waste, boosting exports and enhancing food safety standards.

Credit: INP-WealthPk