KARACHI, May 6: To avoid losses through unplanned and premature fruit exports in the coming season, the Ministry of Commerce has allowed mango exports from May 25, 2013 as per a notification issued on May 3, 2013.

Chairman All-Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Importers-Exporters and Merchants Association (PFVA) Waheed Ahmed said that mango production was expected at 1.55 million tonnes while an export target of 0.175m tonnes has been set for this year.

Pakistan may fetch $60m if the target is met. Sindh remains the most affected province of the climatic hazards and faces 0.15m tonnes drop in production with an estimated decline of 25pc in 2013. The production of mango in Hyderabad, Tando Allayar, Mitiari, Mirpur Khas and others parts of Sindh was badly affected, contributing to delay this season by two weeks.

Waheed, in a statement, said that with successful introduction in Japanese market previously, a limited quantity of Pakistani mango would be commercially exported to the foreign country this year after processing the fruit through the existing pilot Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) plant.

He said international barriers on trade with Iran also hit mango exports as Pakistani banks had stopped trade services with Iran where 30,000 tonnes from Pakistan was shipped previously. The illegal trade or smuggling via land routes was not benefiting the country in terms of revenue.

“Exports to Australia may not begin due to quarantine issue. Australian quarantine team had visited facilities and orchards in the country to check the quality of the fruit for their market, but no development was made in this regard,” the statement added.

He said exporters would mainly focus on exports to Japan, South Korea, the US, Mauritius and Lebanon markets. Pakistan was mainly exporting various varieties like Sindhri, Sunhaira, Fajri, Began Phali, Summar Chaunsa, Black Chanusa and White Chaunsa to around 40 countries.