The government has decided to provide 50 percent subsidy on plants and machinery for establishing processing plants for meat, fruits, vegetables, dates and olives in Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim who announced the Trade
Policy (2012-15), said that a big quantity of fruits and vegetables produced in Gilgit Baltistan is wasted due to lack of processing plants and facilities and the long distance from major urban centers.
This wastage reduced income for the farmers of this region, he added.
He said Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of dates with excellent quality of dates being grown in the areas of Khairpur, Dhakki, DI Khan, DG Khan, Turbat, Pungor and Washak but only 13 percent of the total produce is exported.
Similarly, growing and processing of olives in KP, FATA and Balochistan have great potential.
He said meat and meat preparations exports have grown significantly in the last few years and stood at $175 million in 2011-12.
However, more space exists for export of meat to the adjoining countries, he added.
“To promote food processing and encourage investment and value addition in this region, the government has decided to provide 50% subsidy on cost of processing-plants and machinery for fruits and vegetables,” the minister said.
Govt to provide 50 pc subsidies on food processing plants
