Pakistan urged to export mangoes to China by land route

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese scholars have urged the Pakistani mango exporters to avail land route, particularly during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, in order to capture bigger market share. 

A talk show conducted by the China Economic Net (CEN) in Beijing on July 8, referring to a report from Professor Zhang Zoorwang, stated that Pakistani famous quality mangoes are very popular in China.

“There is a need that the Pakistani government should encourage their own people as well to enjoy popular tasty mangoes for which it should devise policies in such a way that could benefit the growers by safeguarding mango orchards from different contagious diseases thus earn maximum income,” it was observed. 

The participants of the talk show stressed the need for applying latest modern techniques and adopting such equipments for long time preservation of fruits including mangoes as they were needed to be preserved in boxes for export purpose. 

The experts mentioned various reasons for drastic nose dive of exports of mangoes from Pakistan. “The reasons include COVID-19, temporary suspension of international flights, closure of borders and manifold increase of freight charges,” the participants recognized, quoting media reports which suggested 35 to 40 percent decline of export of Pakistani mangos.

Pakistan’s cement industry boosted by another bulk export order

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

After having exported cement in bulk quantity to China, Pakistan has secured yet another export order, this time from the Philippines which will boost the country's cement industry.

The Advisor on Commerce, Abdul Razzak Dawood, tweeted on July 9 that DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKCC), one of the largest cement manufacturers in Pakistan, has earned orders for export of cement to the Philippines. 

“Congratulations to DGKCC on making a breakthrough in winning orders for export of cement to Philippines. This follows on their success in China,” Razzak Dawood was quoted as saying. 

“Exporters should follow this example of extending their market reach across the globe. Once market reach extends, then market share will increase. Increasing geographical diversification is an important part of our strategic trade policy," he added. 

After declining for three months, cement sales in Pakistan rose during the month June. It meant that the industry had started to rebound from the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to a report released by the All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement sales rose 30% to 4.623m tonnes, with exports surging 124 % to 787,000 tonnes in June.

In 2014, the DGKCC had signed a cooperative EP Contract for 1×30 MW coal-fired power station with Sinoma Energy Conservation Limited of China. 

It was reported that the cooperation between Pakistan and China in cement sector covered several aspects. China is one of the biggest foreign markets for Pakistani cement. 

Meanwhile the Chinese enterprises such as CNBM have invested and provided technical support to Pakistan cement manufacturing. In 2019, China imported 2.33036 billion tons of cement, and the prices of cement kept going up. 

The volume of China's cement import continues to grow substantially. China imported cement clinker 22.74 million tons with an average CIF price of $44/ton. Therefore, under CPEC projects, Pakistan's cement export to China is expected as a positive tendency.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, Masood Sattar Khan, Pakistan News and Features Services, PNFS

Coronavirus Update: Infection rate flustering

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, with its swinging daily COVID-19 infection rates, registered another 1,736 cases on July 8, with 23 more deaths, pushing its overall tally of the infections to 99,362. 

According to the health department’s data released on July 8, the daily infection rate for the last 24 hours came as 19%, which equaled the provincial overall rate of 19%. Daily infection rate was determined as almost 15% on July 7, against 14% of July 6 and 21% on July 5.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that Sindh’s daily and overall infections rates had come as 19%, which was on the higher side and certainly a matter a grave concern. 

“People of Sindh can protect themselves and others from the virus onslaught by adopting precautionary measures and adhering to relevant standard operating procedures,” he added.

The Sindh health department’s coronavirus data showed Karachi had 1,003 new cases on the morning of July 8, followed by Hyderabad (122), Ghotki (121), Khairpur (77), Dadu (53), Kambar Shadadkot (47), Shaheed Benazirabad (40), Shikarpur (39), Jamshoro (36), Sukkur (33), Kashmore (32), Tando Allahyar (30), Umerkot (29), Jacobabad (22), Larkana (14), Mirpurkhas (14), Badin (8), Naushero Feroze (7), Sanghar (4), Tando Mohammad Khan (1) and Matiari (1). 

Sindh’s tally of COVI-19 fatalities reached to 1,637 on July 8 with newly reported 223 deaths. Karachi, the highly infected megapolis of the country, reported deaths of nine men and nine women, who were aged between 44 to 70 years. Ghotki, Hyderabad, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana reported one related death each. All these deceased persons were in the age brackets of 46 to 86 years. 

Sindh has tested 533,540 samples, among its population, since February 26 when the first COVID-19 cases was reported in the province.

As many as 580 patients were, as of July 8, in critical condition at various hospitals, according to the health department.

A WHO Sindh sub-office report, covering a period from March 10 to July 7, revealed that the province had 1,614 deaths in all, 77% of that was among 50 years and above while the gender ratio came as 2.4 men to one woman.

The highest number of infection cases was reported from the eastern district of Karachi which contributed to 77% of the total cases in Sindh on July 7. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases was the highest in Karachi (27%) among the total tested on July 7.

The WHO Sindh report further revealed that in all 1,694 healthcare workers contracted the lethal virus till July 7 across the province, 77% of which were doctors.

China to help Pakistan setting up vocational schools

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to the Government of Pakistan, Noor Ahmed, signed a letter of exchange for the equipment and materials project of the Chinese government aided vocational school in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Yao observed that the initiative was one of the early projects in the social and livelihood field of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"Under the joint guidance of the leaders of China and Pakistan, the second phase of the corridor pays more attention to the development of Pakistanis livelihood,” a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy quoted the Ambassador on July 8. 

The implementation of the aid and equipment project for the vocational schools in Pakistan will help to upgrade the hardware facilities of the vocational education system in Pakistan and create better conditions for young people to obtain modern education and improve labor skills. 

While continuing to assist Pakistan in its epidemic prevention work, China will pay more attention to Pakistan’s economic recovery and people’s well-being, and work together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to implement follow-up assistance projects in the field of livelihood. 

Vocational education is an important area of focus for the Pakistan government. The implementation of this project is very timely, which is conducive to upgrading the infrastructure of vocational training schools, creating good conditions for employment for more people, and conducive to the economic recovery of Pakistan.

Pakistan participates in Sichuan Tea Expo

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 Aiming to promote country's tea culture and products, Pakistani tea enterprises have actively taken part in China (Sichuan) International Tea Expo for four consecutive years.

The 9th China (Sichuan) International Tea Expo is being held from July 3 to10 in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in China. 

The Sichuan International Tea Expo is recognized as one of the most important events in tea sector with great scale and influence in China, a one of the sponsors of the event remarked. 

On this occasion, Pakistani tea enterprises displayed their products, including tea and tea wares 

Meanwhile, tea enterprises from other countries like Britain, Russia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Nepal have also brought their own products and distinctive culture for the Expo.

“It is an effective opportunity for not only seeking commercial cooperation, but also communicating different tea cultures of each countries,” the organizers stated. 

Affected by COVID-19, the Pakistani exhibitors couldn’t attend this event directly. These companies, however, entrusted their agents in China to display their products.