PHDEC launches Mango Bagging project to promote export culture

Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) has successfully launched its flagship initiative, “Pilot Project on Mango Bagging” with a training workshop aimed at promoting modern pre-harvest practices for quality enhancement in Pakistan’s mango sector

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th May, 2026) Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) has successfully launched its flagship initiative, “Pilot Project on Mango Bagging” with a training workshop aimed at promoting modern pre-harvest practices for quality enhancement in Pakistan’s mango sector.

The launching ceremony was held at Dera Haji Mushtaq Ahmad Kalroo, Near Qasim Bela where a large number of progressive mango growers, exporters, entrepreneurs, representatives from R&D institutions, and academia participated and witnessed the activity.

Experts highlighted mango bagging as a technically proven pre-harvest intervention that significantly improves fruit quality, safety, and export value. The practice involves covering developing fruits with specialized bags to create a controlled micro-environment, which helps reduce fruit fly infestation, minimize pesticide residues, and protect fruit from environmental damage such as dust, sunburn, and mechanical injury. Technically, mango bagging contributes to uniform color development, improved skin finish, enhanced size and weight, and ensures compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, making the fruit more suitable for premium export markets.

CEO PHDEC, Athar Hussain Khokhar, in his welcome remarks, emphasized the importance of the initiative for the mango industry. He said, the mango bagging technique, introduced three years ago in the country, is now ready for large-scale private sector adoption, thanks to its successful outcomes.

Khokhar urged the industry to respond to such initiatives in letter and spirit to collectively achieve the goal of quality enhancement and increased foreign exchange earnings from high-end markets.

The PHDEC has been actively promoting mango bagging across Sindh and South Punjab, and the intervention has gained strong traction over time. Many growers and exporters are now willingly adopting the practice, while several private sector groups have independently invested in mango bags, reinforcing the effectiveness of the technology.

According to exporters, mango bagging has resulted in significant improvements in fruit quality and profitability, with some reporting double returns compared to conventional practices. Improved appearance, better grading, and higher acceptance in international markets such as Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the United States, and China have directly enhanced competitiveness and export earnings.

Agriculture scientist Abdul Ghaffar Grewal besides researchers from Mango Research Institute, Multan Dr. Asif-Ur-Rehman & Dr Javed Iqbal delivered comprehensive lectures during the technical session, providing practical guidance on bagging techniques, timing, benefits, and proper handling practices, along with field-level demonstrations to facilitate effective adoption.

In the closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali (T.I.), Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA), appreciated PHDEC’s efforts in promoting quality enhancement through innovative interventions.

He expressed optimism that such initiatives would encourage widespread adoption of mango bagging practices and help Pakistani mangoes secure a stronger position in high-end international markets. He further noted that improved quality will enable growers to achieve premium prices both domestically and globally.

PHDEC officials Khawar Nadeem, Zulqarnain Zaka, and Samsam Raza moderated the Mango Bagging Activity and facilitated coordination among growers, exporters, and technical experts during the workshop.

The PHDEC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the horticulture sector through innovative technologies, capacity building, and market-driven initiatives, aimed at enhancing product quality, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global mango market.