MoU signs pact for post-harvest management

Islamabad: The Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) and Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) have agreed to cooperate for improving the post-harvest management infrastructure of fresh fruits and other horticultural products by developing projects on public-private partnership basis.

Both the organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect her on Friday. The MoU was signed by the CEO IPDF, Aijaz Ahmad and the CEO PHDEB, Shamoon Sadiq, on behalf of their respective organisations, at a ceremony, which was also attended by senior officials from both sides.

The MoU was witnessed by Dr Asad Ali Shah, Member Infrastructure, Planning Commission and Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, Member Food and Agriculture, Planning Commission.

The PHDEB proposed to establish a Cool Chain System, with a network of pack houses, reefer yards and cold storage across the National Trade Corridor. The project envisages establishment of 39 export/pack houses equipped with grading, washing, waxing, drying, hot water treatment, packing and storage facilities of different capacities at 31 locations in various parts of the country for major horticultural commodities.

Under the Cool Chain System, 23 cold storages and controlled atmosphere storages will be established in fruit production areas, airports and sea ports. Two reefer yards at Lahore and Karachi, each having a capacity of 250 containers and six testing laboratories would also form part of the Cool Chain System.

Speaking on the occasion, PHDEB CEO Shamoon Sadiq said that the horticulture sector contributes about 12 percent to Pakistan's agriculture GDP, and has great potential for increasing the production and export of premium quality horticultural products besides offering multiple employment opportunities throughout the supply chain, particularly in the rural areas.

He said that approximately 12 percent of the 13.67 million tons of annual production of fruits and vegetables in the country is lost due to primitive and poor techniques of handling between farms and the end-consumers.

IPDF CEO, Aijaz Ahmad said that IPDF has been established as the focal point to promote Public Private Partnership projects in the infrastructure related sectors in Pakistan and under the MoU, IPDF will be providing technical assistance in structuring and implementing the project through private sector participation.

'We are focusing on good governance and regulation through standardised contracts and transparent procurement guidelines, which would provide an enabling environment for the generation of investment opportunities in Pakistan to harness the private sector as the engine of growth for the national economy,' he added.