Pakistan has requested the United States for market access for its agriculture goods, especially mangoes and dates. The request was made, when US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahabzada Mehboob Sultan on Monday.

The federal minister informed his guest that the scope of Pakistani mango export to the US could be enhanced, for it met all the international standards and was exported after vapour treatment. This, he said would greatly boost mango exports.

The minister also invited the US to collaborate for value-addition of mangoes in Pakistan, which would be mutually beneficial. Pakistani mango was exported to almost 48 countries across the globe.

Sultan further added that dates from Pakistan could also be granted market access in US. He suggested that in view of the forthcoming visit of the prime minister, dates and other products could also be granted market access on the basis of reciprocity.

“This government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan is making out all efforts to strengthen the agriculture sector, especially post devolution,” he said. “In the next four years, our government/ministry is open for cooperation from provinces and friendly countries for mutual benefit in agriculture,” he added.

Jones said that US was well aware that Pakistan was an important agricultural country. Exchange of technologies in the agro field including cooperation in value-addition, public private partnership would be welcomed by both the sides.