KARACHI – Pakistan has failed to make inroads in the Australian market for Pakistani mangoes despite announcement, by the foreign country, regarding a change in its’ regulatory policy to accommodate Pakistani import, Pakistan Today has learnt. The country, in the past, has wasted several opportunities to stamp it’s authority in many lucrative international markets. Pakistan had to arrange a visit of an inspection team – who was required to verify data provided by Islamabad, in addition to inspection of farms and production areas. However, the government failed to arrange the visit. Australia, who was willing to import the same during the mango season last year is unlikely to import the same during the next season as initial formalities including visit of foreign team was yet to be arranged by concerned authorities in the country.
Australia had evolved relaxations in the regulatory policy after realising that mango quarantine and pest issue was same in India, Taiwan and Philippine – from where the foreign country had allowed import of fruit, sources said. The only condition, set by the Australian government, was removal of quarantine issue before starting mango import from Pakistan. According to an understanding between Australian authorities and Pakistani foreign office in Australia, the inspection team was to visit VHT Plant in Karachi and Irradiation Plant in Lahore, besides production areas and farms in Multan, Sadiqabad and Interior Sindh to verify efficient working of these plants.
Though, the Pakistani foreign office, through a letter, had earlier informed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) that it was important to ensure the visit of Australian team to the country latest by May or June 2010. However, the authorities were unable to ensure the visit, sources said. If the concerned authorities, sources claimed, stayed apathetic; the country would fail to export mango to Australia during the forthcoming season of mango. The foreign country had relaxed conditions on import of the fruit on March 17, 2010.
Following announcement from Australia last year, the country had saved the 30 months long various process of documentation and other formalities – which normally take over two years, sources said. Relaxation on the import of mango, they said, would be followed by request for expeditious import risk analysis for apples, citrus and dates. The development, according to sources, was outcome of the second round of Pakistan-Australia Joint Trade Committee’s (JTC) meeting, held in Islamabad in February 2010.
The second JTC had discussed a range of requests from Pakistan for access to the Australian market and cooperation in energy and agriculture sectors, including successful Agriculture Sector Linkages Programme. The two sides had also discussed a range of ways to help boost two-way trade and investment. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Australia was very low, favouring Australia. However, according to the government statistics, Pakistani exports to Australia and New Zealand increased to $97.108 million during July to December 2010 against $83.479 million in the corresponding period last year.
