MULTAN-Speakers at a workshop stressed on Wednesday a need for hot water treatment of mango before its export to clear it of fruit fly, warning the mango exporters that the European Union would put Pakistani mango in red category like that of India if even a single fly was found in any consignment.
The workshop was organised by the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) to create awareness on pre-shipment fruit fly management and assessment of mango quality.
Speaking on this occasion, the Vice Chancellor of MNSUA Prof. Dr. Asif Ali said that mango was the prime product of Pakistan and the country could earn precious foreign exchange through its export. He said that the varsity was already working on projects for boosting mango production and improving fruit quality. He asked the mango exporters and growers to arrange hot water treatment of the fruit to protect it from the fruit fly. He further asked them to acquire quality examination certificate before exporting any vegetable or fruit. He said that certified product would clear the fear of a ban in European Market.
The other speakers pointed out on this occasion that Pakistani mango was put in yellow category in European market. He added that the country was likely to send five shipments to Europe and it would be included in red category if the fruit fly was found in any of these shipments.
The speakers noted that only five to six per cent of total national mango crop was exported which needed to boosted. Giving details of fruit fly, the speakers disclosed that over 800 kinds of fruit fly were found in the world and the growers had very short time to control its attack. They pointed out that a fruit fly could lay 20 eggs in one day.
They stressed the need for registration of mango orchards under Punjab Plant Protection Department’s post-harvest hot water treatment programme. They pointed out that just 211 orchards were registered under the programme and more orchards needed to be brought on board.
COMMITTEE FORMED: The district administration has constituted a 12-member committee to propose names for different roads, roundabouts, areas and streets in view of their historic background. The step is taken to highlight centuries old history of Multan and Director DGPR Sajjad Jahania will be convenor of the committee. The members include Jabbar Mufti, Prof. Muhammad Hussain Azad, Khalid Masood Khan, Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, Waseem Mumtaz Advocate, Haji Muhammad Aslam, Hafeez Khan, Muhammad Ali Wasti, Prof Ashiq Durrani, Dr hanif Chaudhry and Prof. dr Ismat Naz. Sources said that the committee convened at Multan Tea House on Wednesday.
The speakers aid on this occasion that Multan was the only living city of the world that was living for the last 6000 years. They added that the city had many civilizations hidden underneath it and we needed to bring them out instead of forgetting them. They said that the committee would name different spots of the city in view of their historic importance. The names would be sent to the district government for final approval.