Govt to help Brexit-hit horticultural exporters in Pakistan: Bosan

Published: January 04, 2017





Karachi: Realizing the export losses incurred by the country after Brexit, the federal government has agreed to help exporters of horticulture products through exemption in taxes.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan on Monday assured the exporters of horticultural products that the proposals made by Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) for helping its members, who faced losses after depreciation of Pound Sterling and Euro following the historic break with the European Union by Great Britain, the matter will be taken up ministry of finance.

The Minister was talking to exporters during a meeting held to make a joint strategy for dealing with issues faced by the exporters. The meeting was attended by patron in chief of PFVA Waheed Ahmed, Chairman Abdul Malik, Senior Member Aslam Pakhali, Head of Plant Protection Department Imran Shami and others.

During the meeting the minister also agreed to soften the condition of mandatory certificate of analysis for export to Indonesia which would ultimately help the exporters to export maximum fruit/vegetable to the foreign country.

Waheed Ahmed complained that the mandatory certification from PCSIR for every consignment with the cost of Rs 45,000 was adding woes of the exporters. He also informed the federal minister about negative impact of the Brexit suggesting the federal government should help the exporters by exempting their consignment from some taxes.

The head of PFVA also complained that an illegal import of fruit from Iran was badly affecting the local market of fruits and vegetables. He stressed for promoting legal trade with the neighboring country adding that Iran has been a big market for Pakistani fruits. The search of new markets for Pakistani horticultural product was also an the agenda of the meeting which discussed that important markets including Thailand, Philippines, South Africa etc. are still untapped for want of agreement related to quarantine with these countries. The minister suggested to explore these markets through a collaborative effort on the part of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and PFVA. He said a representative of the Quarantine Department should also accompany the delegation of these bodies on foreign visits to deal with the quarantine issue. It was also decided in the meeting that officials of the Quarantine Department will also hold a meeting with PFVA members next week to formulate a strategy to address quarantine issues related to exports through air services. The department has also agreed to formulate a strategy for dealing with quarantine issues related to exports to European countries.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/business/04-Jan-17/govt-to-help-brexit-hit-horticultural-exporters-in-pakistan-bosan