Pakistan has requested market access to the US for a number of agricultural products, with a particular focus on mangoes, according to local news sources.
A report from The News International said the request was made via a phone call between Paul Jones, US ambassador to Pakistan, and Mehboob Sultan, Pakistan’s federal minister for national food security and research.
In addition to discussing fresh mango exports, the pair also talked about cooperating in value-addition of mangoes and in the field of agri-tech.
Mehboob Sultan informed Jones that the scope of Pakistani mango exports to the US could be enhanced, which would be mutually beneficial. He also suggested dates and other products could also be granted market access on the basis of reciprocity.
“This government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan is making out all efforts to strengthen the agriculture sector, especially post-devolution,” Mehboob Sultan said, according to The News International.
“In the next four years, our government/ministry is open for cooperation from provinces and friendly countries for mutual benefit in agriculture.”
Jones said the US understood that Pakistan was an important agricultural trade partner and the exchange of technologies in the agricultural field, cooperation in value-addition and in public/private partnerships would be welcomed by both sides.
The pair agreed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming visit to the US in the second half of July would be important in identifying the preferred areas of cooperation, particularly when it comes to agriculture.
