Iran lifts ban on Pak kinnow import

ISLAMABAD (APP) - After a gap of 3 months, Iranian government has lifted ban on import of citrus fruit (Kinnow) from Pakistan, reports a TV channel while quoting exporters.
It will provide impetus to exporters to accomplish ambitious goal of 200,000 tonnes during the current year.
The Iranian government has announced lifting of ban when it started issuing import permits to fruit importers and allowing them to resume the process. The Iranian government placed the ban in November 2009 after persistent warning to Pakistani exporters on account of lack of pursuance of MoU regarding dispatching export consignment by means of only refrigerator containers. Abdul Wahid, former chairman of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Association termed the decision as major step towards enhancing Pakistans kinno export and rejuvenating hopes among exporters towards realisation of export goals.
He said Kinno export target for Iran has been set at 60,000 tonnes and after lifting of the ban the export target is likely to be achieved.
He said the first shipment to Iran will reach within four to five days. Around 100,000 tonnes of the citric fruit has been exported to Europe, Sri Lanka, Russia, Ukraine, Dubai and the Far East countries.
Pakistans kinno exports continue for 5 to 6 months starting usually from November every year and culminate either by the end of March or first week of April.
Irans share in the total export of kinno stand at around massive 33 percent during the last many years and is likely to remain at the same level even during the current year. He claimed previous year, Iran had imported around 55,000 tonnes of kinno from Pakistan out of total export of 150,000 tonnes and in view of the substantial proportion of kinno exported from the country, lifting of the ban was absolutely essential.