The ministry of commerce has removed Bashir Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC), and has given the acting charge to the DG Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Lahore.
An official source said the CEO was removed after he failed to improve the working of the company in three months. The commerce ministry had given a warning to PHDEC management in March this year, either to revive the company or they will be removed. The ministry had withheld provision of the funds to the company and only salary expenditure of lower staff was being provided.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already directed the commerce ministry to enhance country’s exports to over $ 50 billion in the next two fiscal years. Horticulture sector has the potential to immediately make a significant increase in the exports, the source added.
At present, Pakistan’s horticulture exports are close to $ 400 million per annum. Main export products include kinnow, mangoes, dates and vegetables. The major export destinations are in Middle East but for the last several years PHDEC and the ministry of commerce have failed to tap new markets in East Asia, Europe and Americas. India’s horticulture exports have hovered around $ 2.5 billion while China has made a rapid boost with $ 180 billion exports per annum.
When contacted, FPCCI Committee on Horticulture Chairman Ahmad Jawad opposed the idea of closure of PHDEC and stressed that the company should be revived by inducting professionals in the management. He said horticulture exports had tremendous potential as the country was one of the largest producers of mangoes, kinnow and dates.