Due to the delay in mango season caused by global warming, the government has extended the start date of mango export to May 25.
According to a Ministry of Commerce statement, local exporters will be able to begin exporting on May 25.
“We used to begin mango exports in mid-May, but as the climate has changed, the mango season has shifted later, and the government has decided to begin exports accordingly,” Ahmad Jawad, former chairman of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FPCCI) agriculture committee, explained.
One explanation for the delay, he explained, was that as the deadline approached, exporters were tempted to use various artificial mango ripening methods, which would ultimately damage Pakistan’s credibility.
Pakistan produces 1.9 million tonnes of mangoes annually, exporting 120,000 tonnes. However, with access to the Chinese market, it intends to increase exports this year.