Pakistan has set its sights on tapping into China’s $9 billion maize market following the first seminar on maize export potential, held Monday in Mailisi, Vehari, one of the country’s largest maize-producing hubs.
The event brought together maize growers, government officials, and industry representatives to discuss strategies for meeting China’s stringent quality and safety requirements, a prerequisite for sustained market access.
Officials from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) outlined mandatory phytosanitary measures under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). They also detailed Chinese food safety regulations, including standards for mycotoxins (GB 2761-2017), contaminants (GB 2762-2017), and pesticide residues (GB 2763-2021).
Dr. Mubarik Ahmed of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) stressed the importance of controlling aflatoxin contamination and eradicating the Khapra beetle. He recommended proper grain storage, dry, cool, and clean, to maintain export quality, noting that maize ranks as Pakistan’s third most important food grain crop.
TDAP Director General Athar Hussain Khokhar highlighted the breakthrough opportunity created by the recent Pakistan-China maize export protocol.
“In 2023, China imported around 26.23 million metric tons of maize worth $9.01 billion. This agreement allows Pakistan to benefit from China’s growing livestock and feed industries while boosting foreign exchange earnings,” he said.
He emphasised that capacity-building programs for growers and exporters are critical to meeting Chinese compliance standards. To this end, TDAP will host a series of maize-focused seminars this August in Punjab’s leading corn-producing districts, Okara, Sahiwal, and Vehari, covering the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) protocol, registration processes, and quality certification requirements.
The initiative aims to prepare Pakistan’s agricultural sector to compete in one of the world’s most lucrative grain markets, turning the newly signed export protocol into a long-term trade success.
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