Pakistan is making a concerted attempt to export mangoes to China via the land route of the Khunjerab border, according to Badar uz Zaman, Commercial Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.
“Efforts are being made to transport mangoes to China via land routes, and it would be a significant achievement if we could export them via the Khunjerab border in special containers,” he said, referring to the arrival of the first shipment of mangoes in Lanzhou, China’s northwest Gansu province’s capital.
The consignment includes 18 tonnes of fresh Sindhri mangoes from Pakistan, which were delivered from Lahore.
“It’s a fantastic day because Pakistani mangoes are in high demand in Lanzhou,” he told China Economic Net at the arrival ceremony.
He expressed gratitude to the Lanzhou municipal government, China Economic Network, organisers, and other stakeholders for making it possible, noting that this is the first time a fully chartered plane has been leased to bring mangoes from Pakistan to China.
According to Badar uz Zaman, a chartered jet was chartered to bring mangoes from Lahore due to high demand.
He noted that Pakistani mangoes are also extremely popular in other parts of China, which has a historical basis.
Concerning the export of mangoes to other provinces of China, he stated that the mangoes could only be delivered via air cargo, which is always regarded a costly exercise, but the Chinese “Lanmei Airline” facilitated this shipment.
He added that several other airlines have expressed interest in transporting mangoes, which might help cut transportation costs.
“We are also attempting to transport mangoes via sea, but previous attempts have failed due to Pakistani mangoes’ inability to withstand the voyage,” he added.
The commercial counsellor stated that shipment costs might be reduced with the assistance of importers, exporters, cargo airlines, and the Chinese and Pakistani governments, all of which were actively pursuing this goal.
When asked about the upcoming mango festival at the Pakistani embassy in Beijing next month, he stated, “We have received an overwhelming response to the event, and the embassy has received a large number of registration applications, but they have limited capacity even then, five to six hundred people are expected to attend.”
According to Ali Raza Hasnain, exporter and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Excellent Corporation Company, all mango harvesting in Pakistan is supervised by the Department of Plant Protection.
“We specifically graded it between 250 and 600 grammes; not a single mango weighs more than 600 grammes or less than 250 grammes. Generally, because it is a natural thing over which nobody has control,” he added.
It is critical to note here that during this difficult period of COVID-19, all recipes were followed and his company’s entire personnel was quarantined prior to touching the mangoes.
“The taste and fibre content of these mangoes are so good that once you start eating, you cannot stop,” Ali Raza explained. “We are also anticipating new orders from Sichuan and Guangzhou in the near future.”
Max Ma, a Chinese importer and Chairman of UNI International Business Consultancy, stated that this is his fifteenth year working with Pakistani business and that this is the first time a fully chartered jet has been used to transport mangoes from Pakistan to China.
He stated that they are using this occasion to commemorate the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations.
Max Ma stated that if we want to expand the volume of fresh mangoes exported, we must focus on the road route, as air transportation is prohibitively expensive.
Salamat Ali, a Pakistani student in Lanzhou, expressed his excitement by stating that he has been studying abroad for three years and has been unable to consume his hometown’s mangoes (Sindh province).
According to the student, he and other Pakistanis in this city will finally be able to sample the deliciousness of Pakistani mangoes.
It’s worth noting that in the past, Pakistani traders flew mangoes to Kunming, the capital of southwestern Yunnan province, for distribution to marketplaces throughout China.