ISLAMABAD: A leading Pakistani fruits exporters association said on Wednesday it has set an ambitious target of exporting 125,000 tons of mangoes from May to September this year to earn $100 million in revenue, hoping to export 70 percent of these to markets in the Middle East.
Pakistan is the world’s fourth-largest mango producer, with the fruit’s exports generating millions of dollars in revenue annually, according to the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetables Export Association (PFVEA).
Pakistan’s 20 varieties of mangoes come second only to oranges as the most-produced fruit in the country. The country produces around 1,800,000 metric tons of mangoes annually, with 70 percent grown in Punjab, 29 percent in Sindh and 1 percent grown in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Pakistan is aiming to export 125,000 tons of mangoes this season, 25 percent more than last year’s target of 100,000 tons, with exports having started on May 25 and continuing until the end of September,” PFVEA Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed told Arab News.
“We are hoping to export 70 percent of this target to Middle Eastern countries, our largest market, and if achieved, the country is expected to earn an estimated $100 million in foreign exchange,” he added.
