A $2 million Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) plant, imported by the previous management of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) from Japan in August 2013, was found dumped at the warehouse backyard of Expo Centre Karachi in May 2014 after clearance from the port.
Soon after arrival of the VHT plant at Expo Centre, fruit exporters had requested the TDAP to assign management and operation of this plant. However, to date their requests have not been responded.
“The installation of a commercial VHT plant is of crucial importance for the enhancement of exports. However, the actions taken so far by the TDAP in this context have not been encouraging and been restricted to lip service only,” said All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association co-chairman Waheed Ahmed yesterday.
“The TDAP had been promising for the installation of the plant since 2012 but the discrepancy in its desire and action towards its fulfillment is too obvious to be commented upon. To be honest, it has not been given the due importance it deserves,” he remarked.
