Observer Report
Karachi
Exporters have denounced the Ministry for National Food Security and Research for hiking the fee of export certificate for fruits and vegetables by 800% and have termed it an additional hurdle to increase in exports from Pakistan.
The ministry has increased the fee for phyto-certificate, which is required for export of fruits and vegetables from the country.
Owing to the increase, exporters were paying Rs2,500 per item per container for the issuance of phyto-certificate against Rs300 earlier, said All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed.
“This sudden exorbitant increase in the fee without any prior consultation with the main stakeholders is unbearable for the industry,” he said. “The fee hike of Rs2,200 will multiply the cost of export consignments exponentially, which will make it very difficult for exporters to compete in the international market.”
While the government was striving to enhance exports of fruits and vegetables, the fee increase indicated serious discrepancies in its desire and action for meeting the target, he said.
Ahmed pointed out that the disproportionate increase in the fee would seriously hit exports sent via air.
Drawing comparison with other countries, he stated that India had a high fee for phyto-certificate as it was $1.36 or Rs228, while it cost $0.87 or Rs140 in Sri Lanka and $0.24 or Rs40 in Bangladesh.
