Pakistan imports of S Indian tea set to double

Coimbatore, Apr 20 (UNI) Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) Chairman Muhammad Altaf today said the import of tea from South India to Paksitan was expected to double during the current year.

Speaking to newsmen at the airport here heading a 14-member delegation, Mr Altaf said they had come here at the invitation of the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) to hold trade talks at Coonoor.

Last year, Pakistan imported 9.3 million kg of tea from India representing a growth of 33 per cent. This was expected to double this fiscal.

The total tea consumption in Pakistan was 170 million kg. It imported 130 million kg with the rest coming in illegally from Kenya, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Talking to UNI, UPASI Secretarty General Ullas Menon said the delegation will taste about 200 varieties of tea tomorrow at Coonoor. He said Pakistan was the third largest consumer of tea in the world and majority of its requirements were sourced from Kenya . The UPASI, Tea Board and Union Ministry of Commerce have initiated trade negotiations with Pakistan for exporting tea.

UNI KS VV GM PAG1730