Traditional mango exports have been badly affected by the economic havoc wreaked by Covid-19 and exporters fear a huge decline in export of the fruit in 2020.
Many international flights have been suspended, borders closed and rising freight costs are likely to decline the country’s mango exports by 35% to 40% this year.
Last year, Pakistan exported 130,000 metric tons of mangoes to the Middle East, Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and other countries.
This year, however, according to Waheed Ahmed, a leading fruit exporter and president of Pakistan Fruits Exporters Association, the country is expected to export not more than 80,000 metric tons of mangoes.