{
  "id": 10126541,
  "title": "Iranian team to inspect mango treatment plants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/iranian-team-to-inspect-mango-treatment-plants",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T03:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2032972/iranian-team-to-inspect-mango-treatment-plants"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Islamabad: Iran plans to dispatch a two-member inspection team to Pakistan to evaluate newly established hot-water treatment (HWT) facilities for mangoes. This visit could potentially lead to the approval of more such facilities, aiding Pakistan in rejuvenating its exports to Iran, a key regional market. The inspection, anticipated soon, follows a series of communications between Iranian authorities and Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and actions by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to restore the inspection system. It will be the first inspection by Iranian authorities in Iran since about three years. A senior ministry official informed Dawn that the visit was postponed due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. However, the upgraded treatment plant is expected to be operational before the next mango season. The Iranian team will assess the newly established plants, their treatment infrastructure, operational procedures, and compliance with phytosanitary standards required for mango exports to Iran. This development is crucial for Pakistani mango exporters, who have seen a significant drop in shipments to Iran. Currently, Pakistan exports around 30,000 tonnes of mangoes to Iran annually, a stark contrast to the over 60,000 tonnes shipped in previous seasons. Enhancement of HWT facilities could augment treatment capacity, offer greater flexibility, and enable Pakistan to reclaim part of the market lost over recent years. Currently, Pakistan's mango exports to Iran rely on a limited number of approved treatment plants. Approval of additional facilities would enable exporters to manage larger volumes and lessen their reliance on a small number of existing plants. The DPP director general and the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research have been negotiating with Iranian authorities, following which Tehran agreed to send an inspection team. However, the DPP faces another challenge as some treatment plant operators might resist the development of new HWT to protect their market dominance. Iran has been a significant market for Pakistani mangoes, with geographical proximity offering logistical advantages over suppliers from other regions. The outcome of the Iranian inspection team's evaluation could therefore influence Pakistan's ability to expand treatment capacity and regain a larger share of the Iranian market. Iran is the sole major export destination where mangoes are shipped by land. Pakistan exports mangoes to the Gulf region via air and sea routes and reaches European markets only by air. Stakeholders believe that increasing the number of approved HWT facilities, coupled with strict adherence to Iranian phytosanitary requirements, could assist Pakistan in boosting exports to other countries as well, as Iran’s criteria closely resemble Euro standards. Nonetheless, Abdul Waheed, chairman of the Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, warned that any further delays or non-compliance with phytosanitary standards could erode trust in Pakistan’s export-control system and hinder the recovery of the Iranian market. Mr Waheed added that significant potential for recovery exists if additional HWT plants are approved and treatment standards are strictly upheld.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Iran is preparing to send a two-member team to Pakistan to inspect newly established hot-water treatment (HWT) plants for mangoes. The visit could pave the way for approval of more facilities and help Pakistan revive exports to one of its key regional markets. The proposed visit, expected shortly, follows months of correspondence between Iranian authorities and Pakistan’s Department of…",
  "key_points": [
    "Iran to send two-member inspection team to Pakistan",
    "Team to evaluate new hot-water treatment facilities for mangoes",
    "Inspection aims to boost Pakistan's mango exports to Iran"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Iranian inspection team's visit clears a hurdle for Pakistani mango exporters to potentially regain lost market share in Iran and boost exports to other countries with similar phytosanitary standards.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}