IPDF, PHDEB sign MoU to establish common facility center
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—The Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) and Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) have agreed to collaborate on improving the post-harvest management infrastructure of fresh fruits and other horticultural products by developing projects on public-private partnership modality.
Both the organizations signed Friday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect. The MoU was signed by the CEO IPDF, Aijaz Ahmad and the CEO PHDEB, Shamoon Sadiq, on behalf of their respective organizations, at a ceremony which was also attended by senior officials from both sides. The MoU was witnessed by Dr. Asad Ali Shah, Member Infrastructure, Planning Commission Govt. of Pakistan and Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik, Member Food and Agriculture, Planning Commission, Govt. of Pakistan.
The PHDEB proposes to establish a Cool Chain System, with a network of Pack Houses, Reefer Yards and Cold Storages, across the National Trade Corridor.
The project envisages establishment of 39 export/pack houses equipped with grading, washing, waxing, drying, hot water treatment, packing and storage facilities of different capacities at 31 locations in various parts of the country for major horticultural commodities. Under the Cool Chain System, 23 cold storages and controlled atmosphere storages will be established in fruit production areas, airports and sea ports.
Two reefer yards at Lahore and Karachi, each having a capacity of 250 containers and six testing laboratories would also form part of the Cool Chain System. Speaking on the occasion, PHDEB CEO Shamoon Sadiq said that the horticulture sector contributes about 12 per cent to Pakistan’s agriculture GDP, and has great potential for increasing the production and export of premium quality horticultural products besides offering multiple employment opportunities throughout the supply chain, particularly in the rural areas.
Pointing out that approximately 12 per cent of the 13.67 million tons of annual production of fruits and vegetables in the country is lost due to primitive and poor techniques of handling between farms and the end-consumers, he expressed the hope that the proposed project, after completion, would yield good dividends by reducing post harvest losses and enhancing the country’s exports.