Pakistan on Monday shipped its first-ever vegetable consignment to Dubai via sea. The consignment of nine selected vegetables, weighing seven tons, was shipped on an experimental basis as part of the Agricultural Market Development (AMD) project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Calculations suggest the average per kg cost of air shipment to Dubai is around Rs80 per kg compared to Rs5 per kg through sea route, which is lower by around 94%.
Exporters will use the route commercially to export fruits and vegetables to Dubai, which receives about 35% of total Pakistani vegetable exports.
According to Ahmed, the consignment shipped via sea will reach Dubai within three to four days. He appreciated efforts of the AMD-USAID and the Department of Plant Protection, which works under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, for striving hard to give a boost to the value chain and marketing of fruits and vegetables.
According to the arrangement, five exporters of Pakistan will receive the consignment in Dubai and display the vegetables at the upcoming Gulf Food Festival.
