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Bangladesh and Pakistan have initiated a process to expand bilateral trade in fruits, sources say.
As part of the move, a meeting was recently held between the Plant Quarantine Wing, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh, and the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) under Pakistan's Ministry of National Food Security & Research. They discussed the pest-risk analysis for the export of pineapple from Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the Pakistan side expressed serious concerns over the presence of several quarantine pests, including bactrocera carambolae.
In response, Bangladeshi representatives said that they would provide scientific data and references to demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed treatments and to establish pineapple as a non-preferred host for such pests. When contacted, an official of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said the agencies concerned are working on the issue.
Bangladesh will also invite DPP technical officers for on-spot verification of the country's phytosanitary regime and certification systems -- from production fields to export points.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic note to its counterpart in Dhaka regarding the quarantine issue.
Bangladesh's foreign ministry has forwarded the letter to the ministry concerned for further action.
According to official sources, there is a huge potential and demand for Bangladeshi fruits, including pineapple, in the Pakistan market.
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