Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) is conducting capacity building programmes for growers, processors, pack-houses and exporters on international compliances to ensure quality and enhance exports of fruits.
The growers and others concerned were only imparted training but were also aware of international certification and new marketing trends. Listing the measures, being adopted to increase export of horticultural products, sources at Commerce Division on Sunday said PHDEC also supported the industry to obtain international certifications like BRC, Global GAP, HACCP & ISO 22000.
It also identified and accessed high-end new markets like South Korea, Australia, Lebanon, USA, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Sweden, Latvia and Ireland and made successful sea freighted shipments of mangoes to European destinations. The sources said it completed supply chain improvement projects like Pakistan Horti-Fresh, Karachi, Irradiation Facility, Lahore and Apple Grading Plant, Quetta.
With regard to other steps, the sources said Ministry of Commerce under Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2012-15 has announced subsidizing 50 % cost of plant and machinery for dates processing.
