HYDERABAD - Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah has emphasised the need of declaring international level status to Hyderabad Airport with launching of Boeing and cargo services. Speaking as chief guest at opening ceremony of Mango Expo 2011, jointly organised by Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trade Development Authority Pakistan, Agriculture Department and District Government Hyderabad, the minister assured that he would approach to the federal government with plea to declare international status to Hyderabad Airport that would not only ease the heavy burden at Karachi but also facilitate the traders and agriculturists of Hyderabad and other parts of interior Sindh to export their products without any delay or wastage. He said that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the country and if Hyderabad Airport started launching of cargo service, the agriculture sector of the province would get a rapid boost with improvement in socio-economic condition of the growers community. The cargo service from Hyderabad would help in exporting number of horticulture and agriculture produces which could go in wastage due to delay in shipment, he said. The minister congratulated the organisers for organising the Mango Expo-2011 adding that it should be permanent feature like the Mango Show being organized in Mirpurkhas since last 40 years. The Mango Expo 2011 of Hyderabad would help in introducing maximum varieties of mangoes in the national and international markets, he hoped. On demand of the business community, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah assured that he would make all out efforts and approach the quarters concerned for addressing the issues of business community of the province. Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Mines and Minerals Imamuddin Shoqeen speaking on the occasion said HCCI activities have become more productive since Gohar Ullah has taken over as President. Director TDAP Abdul Karim Daudpota in his address informed that TDAP is concentrating on export of mangoes to Europe. New processing plants are being setup to promote export of mangoes to Japan and USA, he said and informed that a delegation is going to Holland to promote Sindhri Mangoes in Holland. Whereas mango festivals are being organised in Indonesia and Malaysia, while Pakistan missions abroad are promoting Pakistan mangoes by setting up display at local stores, he said. President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gohar Ullah welcoming the gathering said mango is being produced in more then 90 countries and Pakistan ranks 4 in terms of production and 9th in terms of export. He said Pakistani mango is much superior in taste and quality than Indian mango but still the export is far less than that of Indian mango. We need to improve our grading and packing to increase our exports. He said the objective of Mango Expo 2011 is to introduce the growers and exporters to new technology and have a better liaison between them, he said. Vice President HCCI Ziauddin, Syed Hassan Alvi Economic and Commercial Council Islamic Republic of Iran, Chairman Zaheer Jan, Former President HCCI Haji Muhammad Yaqoob, Seth SM Ayoub, Yousuf Suleman, Emad Siddiqui, Saleem Arain, Nadeem Siddiqui, Maqsood Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Shahid, Saleemuddin Qureshi, Shahid Ghouri, Abdul Qayoom Nusrat, Nawab Ahmed Khanzada, Dayo Mal, Hamid Mehmood Nasir, Muhammad Madni, Hafiz Naseeruddin, Abul Saleem Arain and other were also present at the occasion.