Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitate growers, processing factories and exporters as Pakistan moves to boost citrus exports. The minister emphasized coordinated steps to align the sector with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards and to expand market access for Pakistani citrus.
The Department of Plant Protection (DPP) was highlighted as playing a central role in bringing the citrus industry into compliance with global SPS requirements. Officials have worked to streamline export procedures, including measures to reduce unnecessary pesticide testing on consignments, with the aim of speeding up clearances while maintaining safety standards.
Efforts to diversify export destinations are under way, with a focus on Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and the European Union. Registration of new exporters targeting markets such as Uzbekistan is seen as an important step to broaden market opportunities for farmers and traders and to increase foreign exchange earnings from citrus exports.
As part of longer term measures, the DPP has recognised post-entry quarantine facilities at the Sargodha Citrus Research Institute, creating a pathway for introducing new seedless and disease-resistant citrus varieties. These varieties are expected to raise yields and consumer appeal, supporting higher-value citrus exports in coming seasons.
A temporary DPP office established in Sargodha will provide on-site support to growers and exporters, enabling faster processing and timely clearance of export consignments. In parallel, the government’s recent engagement with a Russian delegation in Islamabad and the recognition of additional laboratories aim to accelerate testing and certification for export shipments.
Policy support extends beyond fresh fruit to value-added products. The government is promoting seedless citrus and processed items such as juice, concentrates and essential oils as higher-margin export lines. Training workshops and programmes are being organised to help farmers and exporters adopt modern techniques and meet international quality requirements for citrus exports.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government is determined to build a trusted brand for Pakistani citrus by facilitating growers, introducing improved varieties and opening new markets. “Citrus is a symbol of Pakistan’s agricultural strength,” he remarked, underscoring the administration’s focus on long-term growth in the citrus export sector.
