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In this photo, taken on June 24, 2024, Pakistani mangoes pass through a process to disinfect against pests at the Mango Hot Water Treatment Plant in Karachi, ahead of its exports to extend the shelf life. (AN Photo)
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Updated 27 June 2024
Pakistan bolsters hot water treatment to disinfect mangoes against pests, boost exports
- Farmers blame climate change for parasites, extreme weather ruining much of this season’s crop
- 40% of Pakistan’s mango exports undergo hot water treatment, with majority exported to EU, Iran
Updated 27 June 2024
KARACHI: Pakistan is working to advance its hot water treatment facilities to disinfect mangoes from pests in a bid to boost exports, a Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) consultant said this week, as farmers blame climate change for the parasites and extreme weather ruining much of this season’s crop.
The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association said in May there was a “significant reduction” in mango production for a third consecutive year due to climate change, which meant the country may not be able to meet its export targets. This year, the export target has been set at 100,000 metric tons, whereas last year the export target was 125,000 metric tons but only 100,000 metric tons could be exported, according to the Association.
Pakistan is the world’s fourth-largest mango producer and agriculture accounts for almost a quarter of its GDP. But Pakistani mangoes have faced export challenges in recent years due to concerns over pests and fruit flies that can threaten the agricultural standards of importing countries.
Hot water treatment, which involves immersing mangoes in hot water at a regulated temperature, is employed to eradicate pests without harming the fruit. The method not only ensures compliance with stringent international health and safety regulations but also preserves the fruit’s quality, extends its shelf life and maintains market competitiveness.
Dr. Mubarik Ahmed, a consultant with the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan, said Pakistan started the hot water treatment of mangoes in 2014.
“In the same year, India was banned by the European Union … and they [the EU] warned us that they were going to place the same ban on Pakistan,” Ahmed said. “In order to avoid that, we made it mandatory that all the mangoes that went to the European Union will be hot water treated.”
Ahmed said Pakistan had expanded its HWT facilities from one in 2014 to 26 in 2024 to meet phytosanitary requirements, ensuring that around 40 percent of the country’s mango exports went through hot water treatment, with the majority exported to the EU and Iran.
“If we talk in terms of numbers, we generally export around 40,000 tons of mangoes to Iran and similarly we export between 9,000 to 11,000 tons to the European Union,” he said. “So, this is the benchmark. But last year we had a bad mango crop and the exports declined.”
Imran Segal, the owner of Orangzaib & Brothers Hot Water Treatment Plant, said HWT was a “simple procedure.”
“We bring the temperature of the water in the water tank to 48.5 degrees Celsius,” he explained. “When we pass the mangoes through this water for 60 minutes, any fruit flies or diseases in it [fruit] are eliminated.”
He said two breeds of Pakistani mangoes – Sindhri and Chaunsa – were hot water treated.
“Sindhri is the first to arrive in the market, coinciding with the start of the mango season, which means that it dominates the market in terms of quantity due to its high demand,” Segal added. “Meanwhile, Chaunsa is highly prized for its excellent taste in Punjab … Overall, their [hot water treatment] share is evenly split at 50-50.”
“CLIMATE INFLUENCES”
Pakistan produces around 1.8 million metric tons of mangoes annually, of which 70 percent are produced in Punjab province, 29 percent in Sindh and one percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s 20 varieties of mangoes come second only to oranges as the most-produced fruit in the country.
Ahmed said environmental conditions in the Punjab and Sindh provinces were conducive to the rapid multiplication of fruit flies, emphasizing the necessity of control measures, especially during years with high pest infestations.
Progressive farmers used techniques like pheromone traps to manage the pest population but there was a need for the wider adoption of effective control methods, the consultant advised.
“The punch line is that climate influences pest intensity,” he said. “I think climate is influencing the pest complex and the disease pattern in mangoes, as a result of climatic changes there may be some new diseases or there may be some of the disease that already exists, will finish off. So, the research institutes are working on it and we hope that they come up with a concrete pattern.”
In a statement in May, Waheed Ahmed, the patron-in-chief of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, lamented a constant climate-induced decrease in mango yields.
“This year, due to weather effects, the production of mangoes in Punjab is 35-40 percent, while in Sindh it is less than 20 percent and thus the total production is feared to be reduced by 0.6 million metric tons,” Waheen said.
“This estimate was made at the start of production and is likely to increase further as the season progresses.
“The effects of climate change have emerged as the biggest threat to mango production, which can well be gauged from the fact that mango production has declined for the third year in a row.”
Almost 0.5 million women in Pakistan suffering from blindness, vision impairment— eye hospital
Updated 51 sec ago
Almost 0.5 million women in Pakistan suffering from blindness, vision impairment— eye hospital
- Pakistan seeing increase in cataract patients due to population surge, increase in average age, says Al-Shifa Trust hospital official
- Says large number of blind Pakistani women lack access to eye facilities, urges government to strengthen eye hospitals in country
Updated 51 sec ago
ISLAMABAD: Almost half a million women in Pakistan suffer from blindness and vision impairment, a senior official of the country’s most prominent eye hospital said on Thursday, urging the government to set up more facilities to treat patients.
This was revealed by Brig. (retired) Professor Dr. Sabihuddin, the head of the Cataract Department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Pakistan. AST is regarded as one of Pakistan’s most prominent eye hospitals.
In a ceremony to celebrate June as Cataract Awareness Month in Islamabad, Dr. Sabihuddin revealed that Al Shifa Trust annually performs 52,000 surgeries free of charge.
“The prevalence of blindness and vision impairment is higher in females than males while presently, almost half a million women in Pakistan are suffering from blindness and vision impairment,” Dr. Sabihuddin was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
He said around 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from blindness or visual impairment, adding that the complications could have been avoided in at least one billion of these cases.
Dr. Sabihuddin urged the government to set up more facilities in Pakistan to deal with the influx of eye patients.
“He noted that with the rising population and an increase in average age, the number of cataract patients is increasing in the country, and a large number of women have blindness having no access to eye facilities,” APP said.
Dr. Sabihuddin said Pakistan is one of the top countries in the world with diabetes patients, resulting in a high rate of eye diseases.
He said cataracts are age-related degenerations and cannot be controlled, however, the government should strengthen eye departments in all state-run hospitals, including those established at the district level.
Dr. Sabihuddin said AST has all the latest technologies and expertise and operates trust hospitals in Sukkur, Kohat, Muzaffarabad, and Chakwal cities of Pakistan where they are performing around 52,000 cataract surgeries annually free of charge.
“He added that the Cataract Department has completed one million surgeries since its founding,” APP said.
Pakistan PM seeks comprehensive plan to expand trade, investment with Azerbaijan
Updated 27 June 2024
Pakistan PM seeks comprehensive plan to expand trade, investment with Azerbaijan
- PM Sharif chairs high-level meeting of government officials on expanding trade with Central Asian countries
- Pakistan has sought to enhance its role as a pivotal trade, transit hub connecting Central Asian republics
Updated 27 June 2024
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday instructed authorities to formulate a “comprehensive” action plan to boost trade and investment with Azerbaijan, a statement from his office said, as Pakistan seeks foreign investment in its key economic sectors to ward off a macroeconomic crisis.
Pakistan has aimed to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting Central Asian republics, including Azerbaijan, with the rest of the world to leverage its strategic geographical position.
PM Sharif has repeatedly said his government wants mutually beneficial economic partnerships, not loans, with countries around the world as its fragile economy grapples with a macroeconomic crisis.
The Pakistani premier chaired a high-level meeting attended by senior government ministers on enhancing relations with Central Asian states, particularly Azerbaijan, in the areas of economy and investment, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“Pakistan geographically offers a natural economic corridor to the sea for Central Asian states,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the PMO.
He highlighted the decades-old friendly relations that Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoyed, noting that there were significant opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.
“The prime minister directed the development of a comprehensive action plan to boost trade efficiency and expand current trade between the two countries,” the PMO said.
Sharif was told during the meeting that there was “substantial potential” for energy cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and that both countries were in talks regarding a preferential trade agreement.
“Foreign investment in the country is on the rise due to the government’s business and investment-friendly policies,” Sharif noted.
PUSH FOR INVESTMENT
Apart from seeking a financial bailout program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize its fragile economy, Pakistan has also sought foreign investment in key economic sectors with bilateral allies and multilateral organizations.
The South Asian country set up the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in June last year. He civil-military hybrid forum seeks to attract international investment in mining, agriculture, livestock, minerals and other important sectors of Pakistan’s economy
Pakistan saw a flurry of high-level engagements in April and May with business and diplomatic delegations from Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Japan and Qatar visiting the country to discuss trade and investment in the South Asian country’s various sectors.
China lauds Pakistan’s move to establish protection unit for foreigners— interior ministry
Updated 27 June 2024
China lauds Pakistan’s move to establish protection unit for foreigners— interior ministry
- Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets Chinese counterpart Qi Yanjun in New York
- Government set up protection unit amid surge in attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan
Updated 27 June 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR
ISLAMABAD: China’s Interior Minister Qi Yanjun on Thursday appreciated Pakistan’s move to establish a Special Protection Unit (SPU) for foreigners, mainly Chinese nationals, in Islamabad, the interior ministry said.
The interior ministry’s statement came following Yanjun’s meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi in New York, where both officials have arrived to attend the fourth UN COP conference. Naqvi called on the Chinese minister at the office of China’s mission in New York to discuss bilateral and security matters between the two countries.
Naqvi announced earlier this month that Pakistan was setting up a Special Protection Unit (SPU) for foreigners in Islamabad amid a surge in attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan. China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan but both separatist and religiously motivated militants have attacked Chinese projects in recent years, killing Chinese personnel.
“Peoples Republic of China’s QI Yanjin appreciated the initiative of establishing the SPU in Islamabad for the protection of foreigners, especially Chinese citizens,” Pakistan’s interior ministry said.
It said that the Chinese interior minister offered Beijing’s full cooperation in training and related matters for the SPU force.
The most recent attack targeting Chinese nationals took place in March when five Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing. The Chinese personnel were on their way to a hydropower project funded by Beijing being built in Dasu in the country’s northwest when their vehicle was targeted.
Naqvi briefed Yanjun about the progress in the Dasu attack during their meeting. The Chinese minister expressed satisfaction over the progress in the case, the ministry said.
“Pakistani institutions traced this case through hard work and professionalism,” Yanjun was quoted as saying by the Pakistani interior ministry.
The Chinese minister invited Naqvi to participate in the Global Security Forum scheduled to be held in China in September, the interior ministry said, adding that Naqvi accepted his invitation.
ATTACKS ON CHINESE INTERESTS
The March blast was the third major attack in a little over a week on China’s interests in the South Asian nation, where Beijing has invested more than $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
China has repeatedly called on Pakistan to ensure its nationals in the South Asian country are kept safe from militant attacks. Islamabad has since then taken measures to enhance the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
Pakistan has alleged that its ongoing investigation and evidence into the Dasu attack has shown that the militants involved in it had been taking instructions from leaders of the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan.
Kabul has denied the allegations and has repeatedly assured Pakistan and other countries that its soil would not be used for militant attacks in other countries.
Pakistan cites Afghanistan as ‘top priority’ ahead of tripartite Doha talks
Updated 27 June 2024
Pakistan cites Afghanistan as ‘top priority’ ahead of tripartite Doha talks
- The deputy PM says Pakistan will engage with Afghan authorities on health issues, particularly polio eradication
- He tells the National Assembly the foreign office is also making arrangements for his visit to the Afghan capital
Updated 27 June 2024
ISLAMABAD: The government described Afghanistan as its “top priority” on Thursday, saying a delegation was ready to participate in a tripartite conference in Doha that would focus on the situation in the neighboring state, amid concerns that Pakistan’s new administration was not focusing on Afghan affairs.
Pakistan launched a deportation drive against unregistered Afghan nationals amid a spike in suicide bombings last year, after blaming the proscribed militant network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), for masterminding extremist violence in its cities from its sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
The situation intensified bilateral tensions between the two sides, which also witnessed occasional border skirmishes and closures, affecting the movement of people and the volume of trade between them.
“A summit is soon to be held in Doha within a few weeks,” Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said while addressing the National Assembly. “It will be a tripartite event involving Doha, Afghanistan, and us. The prime minister has given clearance to cooperate with Afghanistan on health issues, particularly polio eradication.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.
Dar said the foreign office of Pakistan was also making arrangements for his visit to Kabul.
“Let me assure you,” he continued. “Afghanistan remains on our priority agenda. Make no mistake. Afghanistan has not been ignored by this government. It would be top priority of this government. Let me be very clear and candid on this.”
The deputy prime minister noted Pakistan’s engagement with Afghanistan would also try to address the bilateral trade issues.
Pakistan’s deputy PM vows tit-for-tat resolution in response to US election criticism
Updated 27 June 2024
Pakistan’s deputy PM vows tit-for-tat resolution in response to US election criticism
- US House of Representatives adopted a resolution, calling for impartial probe into the allegations of election rigging in Pakistan
- Ishaq Dar says Pakistan has prepared the text of its counter resolution and will soon share it with treasury benches and opposition
Updated 27 June 2024
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday vowed to introduce a resolution in response to the United States House of Representatives’ call for an impartial probe into the allegations of election irregularities in Pakistan’s recent national polls on February 8, saying it was important for the country to assert its sovereignty.
The US lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that urged Islamabad to uphold the democratic process and ensure the rule of law, freedom of media and speech.
The US resolution, which saw bipartisan support, followed the Pakistani elections marred by violence, communication blackouts and delayed results that led to allegations of rigging denied by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
“We will bring a resolution in response to the US resolution,” Dar said while addressing the National Assembly. “We must show our sovereignty. We must show our unity. We must show that we mean business. There is no sense to this [US resolution]. We can also criticize a number of things about other countries. But we refrain.”
“I believe that mutual dignity and respect is that they should reciprocate,” he continued. “We have taken notice of this, the draft resolution is ready. It will be shared with all the parliamentary leaders of both treasury benches and the opposition, and I would request that we must come in unity with a clear resolution in response to the US resolution.”
Dar said the National Assembly was currently busy passing the budget since it was a time-bound priority.
However, he noted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had allowed to move the resolution, which would be done as soon as the budget adoption process was complete by Friday evening.
Pakistan’s foreign office said a day earlier the US resolution was grounded in “an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan.”
It noted the resolution’s timing and context clashed with the improving dynamics of bilateral ties.
“Such resolutions are therefore neither constructive nor objective,” it added.
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