STAFF REPORT KHI: Pakistans first and South Asias largest hot water treatment plant for mango processing has been inaugurated in Karachi on Saturday. The plant has a capacity to process 10 tons of mangoes per hour in accordance with the USDA standards. Hot water treatment plant, recommended by International Quarantine, processes mangoes in hot water at 48°C for 65 minutes, maintains the pump temperature at 46.66°C with the help of a 12-probe sensor installed in the system.
After processing, mangoes will be free from nine diseases. Durrani Associates established the plant under public-private partnership with the help of the Ministry of Commerce and Pakistan Horticultural Development Export Company.
“With the establishment of the plant, opportunities have been created for opening up exports to new markets such as Australia, the US, Japan and South Korea,” said Abdul Wahid, Chairman Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, while addressing the plant inaugural ceremony as chief guest.
He said that after treatment from this plant, exporters can export mangoes via ships instead of sending the consignments by air, as it enhanced the life of mangoes by almost 25 day against unprocessed mangoes.