Waheed Ahmed is both Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). He claims that his nation’s horticulture exports, currently at around $600 million, have the potential to increase tenfold, reaching $6 billion by 2030.
A roadmap has now been prepared to achieve the target. He wants to hand over this roadmap to the government that will come into power after the July 25 general elections.
“The new government will not have to evaluate what to do. We would hand them the roadmap and tell them what needs to be done for the sector,” Waheed said.
Increasing exports is crucial for an economy like Pakistan, that faces a bulging current account deficit and falling foreign exchange reserves. Amid deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, the currency has lost 13% of its value in the last seven months, triggering inflation and rising interest rates.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Waheed said that Pakistan needs to let go of just producing traditional products like potatoes, onions, mangoes and kinnows and expand its exportable varieties.
