Fruit exporters fret over import of expired Indian mango pulp

KARACHI: Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters, Imports and Merchants Association (PFVA) has asked the government to initiate an investigation against import of expired India mango pulp through Oman.

In a letter to Federal Minister National Food Security and Research on Tuesday, Waheed Ahmed, patron-in-chief, PFVA, said customs had allowed import of Indian mango pulp from Oman into Pakistan. This illegally imported Indian mango pulp was being supplied from the Karachi Port to various cities in Punjab via trucks.

The expired mango pulp (date of expiry December 12, 2018, and January 2019) estimated to be around 200 - 250 metric tons, was packed in blue-coloured drums with a pasted packing list.

The PFVA chief said in his letter that the expired product was dangerous for human consumption and in extreme cases could result in innocent human deaths. Recently, numerous incidences of death have been reported due to consumption of expired food items in restaurants / hotels.

“An expired horticulture product (mango pulp and concentrate) is also a source of spreading major diseases among the consumers leading to human sufferings and deaths,” the letter added.

The letter further said that the imported pulp from India was also a threat to the

local pulp industries of Pakistan, which had invested heavily to not only meet local demand, but also earned valuable foreign exchange through export in international markets.

The letter urged the government to thoroughly investigate the matter and find out all those involved in importing and permitting the clearance of the expired Indian product to Pakistan via Oman.

The Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters, Imports and Merchants Association patron-in-chief’s letter said that once the investigation ascertains those responsible for “playing with human lives”, strict disciplinary action should be taken accordingly to ensure such incidences of gross violations did not get repeated.

“We would also stress that Pakistani mission in Oman may be approached for initiating local investigation to ascertain how expired Indian mango pulp was re-exported to Pakistan.”

The letter suggested completion of the investigation in the shortest possible timeframe to take necessary action against the culprits. The letter also attached various pictures related to this matter (packing list, drums, and trucks carrying drums etc) for the information and record of the minister.