The Pakistani government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country's agricultural export base, particularly in the citrus sector, through innovation, value addition, and quality enhancement aimed at expanding exports to China and other markets, Gwadar Pro reported, citing a senior official.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, speaking on the sidelines of the Agri Expo Sargodha, said that citrus, especially Kinnow mandarins, remains one of Pakistan's key export commodities with strong 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 is supporting programs to improve agricultural practices, strengthen compliance with international phytosanitary standards, and upgrade logistics infrastructure required for temperature-controlled exports. These efforts focus on meeting the growing demand from China, which has become a high-value destination for Pakistani fruit.
At the Expo, the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) organized a 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 citrus growers, exporters, and agricultural researchers.
Experts from the Citrus Research Institute (CRI) in Sargodha presented updates on pest control, harvest optimization, and post-harvest management to improve fruit quality and reduce losses during export. The PHDEC also distributed Urdu-language citrus manuals designed to help farmers apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and modern orchard management techniques consistent with international standards.
To improve export logistics, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) introduced reefer container transport solutions for temperature-controlled citrus shipments. The new service is intended to streamline exports for the upcoming season starting in December. Minister Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the collaboration between growers, exporters, and logistics providers, describing such partnerships as essential for sustainable sector 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 confirmed that it will continue to work under the Ministry of Commerce to strengthen the citrus value chain and position Pakistan as a reliable supplier of agricultural products in global markets.
Source: INP
