Karachi, Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (R) Maqbool Baqir announced that Sindh contributes a significant 80% to Pakistan’s total national pepper production of 144,000 metric tons. This statement was made during the ceremony marking the first shipment of dry chillies from Pakistan to China under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor Agricultural Project.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the ceremony was attended by notable figures including Chinese Consul General Yang, Mr. Yundong, Project Manager of Sichuan Letong Food Co., Ltd., Mr. Zheng. Recorded messages from the Federal Minister for Food Security and Research Kausar Abdullah Malik and Chinese Ambassador Jian Zedong were also showcased. The Chief Minister highlighted that the Agriculture Department’s Research Institute in Kanari has developed two new varieties, Kanari-1 and Nagina, which yield 25 to 30% more than local varieties. He emphasized the importance of establishing dewatering and processing facilities to improve quality and international demand, benefiting foreign exchange.
Justice Baqir pointed out that Sindh’s fertile lands and diverse climate hold immense agricultural potential. He expressed readiness to utilize these resources through historical, sustainable, and modern agricultural methods. The Chief Minister also acknowledged the achievements of the Sichuan Letong Company and expressed eagerness for a developmental partnership that would benefit the agricultural sector and local farmers.
Furthermore, Justice Baqir mentioned that over 143,000 acres of chillies are cultivated in Pakistan, with major pepper-growing districts in Sindh being Umarkot, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thatto, Jamshoro, Sanghar, Tandowalhiyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Dadu, and Shikarpur. He noted the potential for trade, cooperation, and industrial partnership between China and Pakistan.
The Chief Minister lauded the joint efforts as a model for economic benefits, employment opportunities, and cultural understanding. He emphasized the significance of the pepper shipment from Pakistan to China as a symbol of the joint efforts and a step towards strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
Justice Baqir also appreciated the roles played by the Chinese Sichuan Letong Company, the Chinese Embassy, and the Department of Agriculture, Food Security, and Plant Protection. He remarked on Sindh’s rich history, cultural heritage, and agricultural potential, and how the export event demonstrates progress in China-Pakistan economic cooperation and friendship.
Concluding, the Chief Minister reflected on the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as symbols of deep friendship and mutual prosperity. He announced that Sichuan Letong plans to establish two pepper processing plants in Hyderabad and Faisalabad next year, further cementing the economic partnership between Pakistan and China.