A state-of-the art multi-products pulping facility has been established here for the processing of horticulture products to meet international standards for food safety and help in boosting country`s exports. The facility is a combination of Italian and German technologies and is located adjacent to the fruit & vegetable whole sale market on super highway.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bashir Hussain and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) visited the facility early this week to have an on the spot briefing on this new venture setup by M/s. Iftekhar Ahmed & Co.

This is the first ever facility of its kind put in the country. Currently it is processing mangoes, apples, guavas and tomatoes. Its annual production is about 4000 metric tons. They also own state of the art pack-house, equipped with an imported facility or hot water dip, washing, waxing, grading (by size, weight and colour), packing and cold storage. Both the processing (pulping) and pack-house facilities meet internationally required food safety standards and have obtained HACCP certification.

The pack-house can also handle other fruits and vegetables. Waheed Ahmad, Director Marketing who is also Chairman of All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Importers, Exporters & Merchants Association briefed the visitors about his company and the infrastructure facilities available there.

The visitors also had a round of the facilities and appreciated the efforts and investment made by the company in order to enhance exports of value added horticultural products from Pakistan. Bashir Hussain assured PHDEC`s full support in promoting their products in the international market as well as to extend technical support as and when needed including support for sourcing raw material.

In the evening Bashir Hussain held a meeting with the exporters of fruits and vegetables in the office of PHDEC. The exporters emphasised on the need for product development, market and product diversification, market intelligence etc Bashir Hussain informed that he has already taken steps in this regard and would encourage jointly formulation of a road-map for enhancing horticulture exports from the country.

He also briefed them about the mango promotion plans for the ensuing season Waheed Ahmad, Chairman All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable importers, Exporters and Merchants Association apprised Bashir regarding their association`s aspiration of making efforts to find new markets for mango viz Russia, China, Far Eastern and some European countries. In this regard PHDEC`s promotional efforts with them will highly be appreciated, he said.