Uzbekistan Approves 184 Pakistani Kinnow Exporters, Opening New Central Asian Market

Uzbekistan has granted market access to 184 Pakistani kinnow exporters and 39 packing facilities ahead of the upcoming citrus season, giving Pakistan's fruit exporters a new destination at a time when traditional trade routes have been unsettled. The approval was announced by the government on Tuesday and applies to exporters registered with Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection (DPP), provided they meet the required regulatory and phytosanitary standards.

The development is expected to ease pressure on Pakistan's citrus industry, which has faced repeated setbacks in recent months due to border and trade frictions with Afghanistan, historically one of the largest buyers of Pakistani kinnow. Access to the Uzbek market provides exporters with an alternative outlet just as the new harvesting season approaches.

Trade with Afghanistan has remained disrupted since October 2025, affecting a longstanding export channel for Pakistani agricultural produce, particularly kinnow and mangoes. The Uzbek approval is seen as a timely opportunity to redirect part of that trade and strengthen Pakistan's presence in Central Asia.

The market access follows coordinated diplomatic and technical efforts involving the Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) and the Department of Plant Protection. Pakistan's Trade and Investment Counsellor in Uzbekistan and its embassy in Tashkent also contributed to the process.

The government expressed appreciation for Uzbekistan's cooperation and said it remains committed to expanding bilateral trade through greater agricultural market access. For Pakistani kinnow producers, the approval offers a chance to diversify export destinations and reduce reliance on a single regional market.

Pakistan's citrus sector is a significant contributor to agricultural exports, and access to new markets is closely watched by growers and exporters alike. Industry observers will be monitoring whether the Uzbek clearance translates into sustained shipment volumes during the coming season.