Kinnow exports: govt orders a 5-year roadmap in 15 days, plans daily Iran convoys and a Sargodha reefer train

The government has ordered a five-year roadmap to raise kinnow exports, to be ready within 15 days, and wants faster transport and customs clearance for the fruit before the season gets going, ProPakistani reported on Thursday 29 October.

The decisions came at a meeting of a subcommittee set up on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's instructions and chaired by Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, with representatives of 41 organisations present.

What was decided

• Roadmap in 15 days: the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) must prepare a five-year plan to increase exports and add value to kinnow and other citrus.
• Port Qasim: the committee reviewed progress on the prime minister's directive for a 60% tariff concession at Port Qasim for the fruit.
• Iran border: daily convoys to move fruit across the Iran border were proposed.
• Green channel: immediate customs clearance for perishable farm produce was discussed.
• Finance: exporters' financial instruments are to be extended before 15 November. The State Bank told the meeting that exporters have up to 120 days to bring export proceeds home.
• Reefer train: a weekly refrigerated freight train from Sargodha to Karachi and Quetta was proposed, and Pakistan Railways was asked for a feasibility report.
• Market problems: departments were told to sort out import duties on Pakistani produce in the Philippines and valuation issues in Russia.

Why it matters in Sargodha and beyond

Kinnow is grown mostly around Sargodha, Bhalwal and Toba Tek Singh, and the season runs from roughly December to March. Every week a container waits at a border or port, the fruit loses value, which is why transport and clearance dominate the list. Last year the government also promoted seedless varieties and products such as juice, concentrate and essential oils, and registered new exporters for Uzbekistan and other Central Asian markets.

The Iran route matters more than usual this year: the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings closed on 17 October and reopened only last week (our story).

Exporters paid in dollars can check what a shipment is worth in rupees with our currency converter and the dollar rate page.