DNA
KARACHI: Sri Lanka has achieved a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral agricultural trade with Pakistan by completing the technical and phytosanitary requirements necessary for the export of fresh Sri Lankan pineapples to the Pakistani market.
Following several years of sustained technical discussions and regulatory engagement, the Governments of Sri Lanka and Pakistan have finalized the phytosanitary import conditions, paving the way for the entry of fresh Sri Lankan pineapples into Pakistan.
The initiative was spearheaded by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi in close collaboration with the National Plant Quarantine Service of Sri Lanka and the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Pakistan, with the support of the Department of Commerce, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).
During the recent visit of a Pakistani business delegation to Sri Lanka, the Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development instructed the relevant authorities to expedite market access for Sri Lankan pineapples, avocados, and king coconuts. As a result, priority attention was given to facilitating pineapple exports, while discussions on securing market access for avocados, king coconuts, and other agricultural products will continue between the relevant authorities of the two countries.
As part of the market access process, the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Pakistan dispatched a technical expert to Sri Lanka in July 2026 to inspect pineapple production areas and plant quarantine systems. Following the successful completion of the inspection, the NPPO finalized the phytosanitary import requirements and export facilitation guidelines, enabling Sri Lankan exporters to access the Pakistani market.
The initiative also received valuable support from the All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo, whose cooperation played an important role in facilitating this bilateral trade initiative.
Pakistan represents a promising market for Sri Lankan fresh fruits, particularly premium-quality pineapples. With growing consumer demand for tropical fruits, Sri Lanka expects commercial exports to commence in the near future, creating new opportunities for growers, exporters, and traders in both countries.
This achievement marks another important milestone in strengthening agricultural cooperation and bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It also contributes to the diversification of export markets for Sri Lankan agricultural products while providing Pakistani consumers with greater access to high-quality tropical produce.
