Pak mangoes are hot cake at Wallmart China

statesman.com

Pakistani mangoes have become centre of action in the largest retail chain of China "Wall Mart" where the king of fruit is being offered for sale in a festivity. The mangoes have been shipped by a leading Pakistani exporter Durrani Associates through sea in July this year. Director of Durrani Associates Babar Khan Durrani said here that Pakistan has taken a lead by exporting 40 tons of mango to China. India had registered for mango export to China in 2003 and Pakistan in 2006. He said China is a big market and a three-member Chinese delegation will visit Pakistan to conclude an agreement for the purchase of 100 tons of mango. The delegation will witness the working of latest mango treatment and quality control processes during the visit. Durrani said Pakistani mangoes are in great demand in China due to their quality and taste and Pakistan can earn millions of dollars by exporting the king of fruit. He pointed out that Pakistan can enhance mango export to China three fold in next three years. He said Pakistan exports mangoes to 11 countries and is ranked fifth in global mango production. We produce about 1.6 to 2 million tons of mangoes every year, he added. It is pertinent to mention here that as many as 11 countries including Pakistan export mangos. To meet the global standards, mangoes are treated before export. There are four knows ways of treatment, out of which three are recognised across the world: hot water treatment (HWT), vapour heat treatment (VHT) and radiation. He said that owing the research work of 27 years, Durrani Associates managed to bring Pakistan with a double edge in regard with treatment and shelving of mangoes. The country has a capacity to treat 15 tons of mangoes per hour. Besides this, Pakistani private sector has ability of shelve mangoes for 35 days after treatment, however the rest of exporter countries could shelve mangoes for maximum seven days. Durrani said, “China can be the biggest market of Pakistan Mangoes and within 3 years Pakistani export can be doubled,” he added. He further said that Pakistan produces 1.6 to 2 million mangoes annually and ranked 5th to 6th in mangoes’ production.