Japan urged to lift ban on fruits

Published August 20, 2008

ISLAMABAD, August 19: Japan was Tuesday urged to lift ban on fruit and vegetable exports from Pakistan.

“We are meeting the standards set by Japan and, especially the quality of Pakistani mangoes is according to international standards and there is a great trade potential between the two countries in this sector”, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal said while talking to Japanese Ambassador in Pakistan Seiji Kojima, who called on him here.

He said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Japan and there was a tremendous potential of increasing cooperation in food, agriculture and livestock sectors between the two countries.

The minister said that Pakistan was an agricultural country and there was a need for increasing technological cooperation and research-sharing between the two countries in food, agriculture and livestock sectors. He said Japan could provide assistance to Pakistan in improving seed quality of vegetables, fruits and other crops.

He also proposed the idea of starting joint ventures in food processing and agricultural machinery. He said Pakistan also needed Japanese cooperation and technical assistance in livestock and fisheries sector adding that development of this sector can help give a boost to the national economy. Mr Gondal emphasised the need for increasing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology, education, culture and tourism.

The Japanese ambassador said that Pakistan was a fast growing economy and his country would extend technical and scientific assistance in agriculture sector.

Opinion

Editorial

Closed doors
Updated 08 Jan, 2025

Closed doors

The nation’s fate has been decided through secret deals for too long, with the result that the citizenry has become increasingly alienated from the state.
Debt burden
08 Jan, 2025

Debt burden

THE federal government’s total debt stock soared by above 11pc year-over-year to Rs70.4tr at the end of November,...
GB power crisis
08 Jan, 2025

GB power crisis

MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels —...
Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

The global eradication of polio is within reach and Pakistan has no excuse to remain an outlier.