By Ceylon Signal 
Sri Lanka has cleared the final regulatory hurdles to begin exporting fresh pineapples to Pakistan, marking a significant breakthrough in agricultural trade between the two countries after years of technical negotiations and compliance work.
According to a media release issued by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi on August 3, both governments have now agreed on the phytosanitary import conditions required for market entry. The approval follows sustained coordination between Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service and Pakistan’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), supported by multiple trade and diplomatic agencies on both sides.
The Consulate General in Karachi played a central role in driving the initiative, working alongside Sri Lanka’s Department of Commerce, the High Commission in Islamabad, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and the Export Development Board. Momentum accelerated after a Pakistani business delegation visited Sri Lanka earlier this year, prompting the Sri Lankan trade minister to instruct officials to fast‑track market access for pineapples, avocados, and king coconuts.
Pineapples were prioritized, and progress advanced rapidly in July 2026 when Pakistan’s NPPO dispatched a technical expert to inspect Sri Lankan pineapple farms and quarantine systems. The inspection confirmed compliance with Pakistan’s import standards, enabling the NPPO to finalize its import requirements and export facilitation guidelines.
The initiative also received backing from the All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association and Pakistan’s High Commission in Colombo.
Sri Lankan officials described Pakistan as a promising market for premium tropical fruit, noting rising consumer demand and strong commercial interest among Pakistani importers. With regulatory clearance now complete, commercial shipments of fresh pineapples are expected to begin shortly.
Authorities say the move will open new revenue streams for Sri Lankan growers and exporters while offering Pakistani consumers greater access to high‑quality tropical produce. Discussions on expanding the list of approved Sri Lankan fruits—particularly avocados and king coconuts—will continue in the coming months as both countries look to deepen bilateral agricultural trade.