The Federal Secretary Mr. Ismail Qureshi, Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) visited the head office of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB). According to the press release issued hereby PHDEB, a meeting was held with the senior official of the PHDEB on the promotion and development of horticulture sector in the country.

Mr. Ismail Qureshi expressed that there is a vast scope in the horticulture sector in the days to come as the doors for exports to Iran and China and other territories are being opened. The agreements with China on the export of citrus, rice, and livestock are in the offing. He emphasized on the Sanitary / Phytosanitary, compliance to international standards, efficient and effective logistics and elimination of fruit flies and diseases in order to be competitive in the world market. He also asked the PHDEB to get prepared for participation in Asian Development Bank Agribusiness Project and defined the role of PHDEB in the capacity building of horticulture entrepreneurs and other farmer groups and in creation of linkages with the stakeholders.

Mr. Shamoon Sadiq, CEO PHDEB assured the Secretary Minfal to take all the necessary measures to make this ADB Agribusiness Project a success. He quoted the example of other countries like Chile and South Africa who have made a tremendous progress in the horticulture sector in the recent past and hoped that once we are compliant, every other country will be more than happy to sign horticulture trade agreement with us.