Pakistan has kicked off its kinnow exports for the current season, with the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) setting a target of 300,000 tonnes, which is expected to earn $110 million in foreign exchange.
Since December 1, exporters have already shipped around 6,000 tonnes to the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Last year, Pakistan exported 250,000 tonnes, earning $95 million. Despite this season’s exceptional production – forecast at 2.7 million tonnes, compared to 1.7 million tonnes – exports remain almost 50% lower than the 550,000 tonnes shipped five years ago.
PFVA chief boss Waheed Ahmed attributed the decline to “zero investment in R&D” and the failure to introduce new climate-resistant citrus varieties. The association has submitted short, medium and long-term plans to the government which Ahmed said could increase citrus exports to $400 million within five years if implemented.
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He added that Pakistan needs to start growing new varieties from Egypt, the United States, Morocco and China, as well as low-water types of citrus fruits – lemon, grapefruit, orange and tangerine – which enjoy high global demand.
Pakistan’s broader citrus sector has long faced similar pressures. In Dir Upper and Lower, once home to prized honey oranges known as “nature’s candy,” orchards have gradually given way to shopping malls as population growth and land prices crowd out growers. Dir’s famous oranges now survive on barely 300 acres, with traders often selling Punjab-grown fruits under the Rabat label to meet local demand.
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Agriculture officials say organically grown Dir oranges – grown without pesticides or urea – showcase both Pakistan’s exceptional citrus potential and the consequences of neglecting scientific farming.
Ahmed warned that logistics remains a major obstacle to Kinnow exports. With trade with Afghanistan suspended, land access to Central Asia and Russia is blocked, forcing exporters to take longer and more expensive routes through Iran, where transport costs have already doubled at the start of the season.
He urged the government to adopt a national citrus strategy, boost R&D and accelerate the shift to modern irrigation systems as water shortages intensify.
