ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC), in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), organised an interactive Zoom session titled “Russia Market Re-Opening for Pakistani Potatoes: Current Issues and Way Forward,” focusing on reviving exports to the Russian market amid a bumper domestic crop.
According to a statement issued on Friday, the session was held in view of the start of the potato season in Punjab and the availability of export-grade produce, with an estimated harvest of 12 million tonnes. The discussion focused on expanding export destinations and reopening the strategically important Russian market.
The session brought together public and private sector stakeholders, including Shabana Mumtaz, Minister (Trade & Investment) in Moscow, representing the Trade Mission Russia, along with officials from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), the Pest Warning Wing of the Punjab government, the Pakistan Fruits & Vegetables Association, and leading potato exporters. Participants highlighted the urgency of market diversification amid restricted access to traditional export destinations.
Mumtaz briefed participants on Pakistan’s engagement with Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s national plant protection organisation, and said the ban imposed in May 2025 stemmed from phytosanitary concerns related to Potato Tuber Moth and Spotted Wilt Virus. She said Pakistan’s official technical response had already been shared with Russian authorities, while feedback was still awaited.
DPP officials said extensive surveys and technical analyses conducted jointly with the Punjab Pest Warning Department found no evidence of pests or diseases in Pakistan. They added that a comprehensive technical report had already been submitted to the Russian side.
