LAHORE - First Produce Marketing Organization (PMO) of the progressive mango growers of Multan has been awarded Global GAP (Global Good Agriculture Practices) certification. It is first PMO of the mango industry in the country which has been certified; previously three individual farms; Ali Khan Tareen Farm, Lodhran Punjab, JDW Farm, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab and Asim Agriculture Farm, Tando Allahyar, Sind were certified as Global GAP According to a press release issued here by Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB), PMO of Multan comprises 730 acres (290 Hectors) of Mango Farms around village Lutfabad on Bosan road, Multan. The partner farmers that of PMO are Mr Saleem Alizai, Barrister Waseem Khan and Major (R) Tariq Khan. The area of PMO is known of quality rich mango production the world over. With the support and guidance of PHDEB the PMO has recently achieved the Global GAP certification for exports of mangoes. The PMO has the potential to raise its capacity and serve as launching pad for exports of Mangoes to EU direct from the farm in the times to come. The PMO has already applied for Competitiveness Support Fund grant to develop modern Pack House with a cold storage facility. The founder farmers of PMO are committed to enhance their capacity, matching the world practices for export of mangoes to European markets. In this connection Major (R) Tariq khan, a leading member of PMO has been to Singapore to develop the market links for the PMO. The members of this PMO are also working closely with ASLP (Supply Chain) project as core group members. This is a private certification system driven by 22 large scale retail chains in Europe that form the core members and the Global GAP scheme brings those 22 retailers together with large scale fresh produce suppliers and producers. The international consumers / buyers are now beginning to differentiate between the fruit that is produced from farms where Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) have been applied. Pakistan shares a negligible percentage of the total export of fruits & vegetables to the European markets. This is due to strict food quality standards of the European countries.