Random checking of tea exports to Pakistan soon

Tea Board chairman Mr G.V. K. Bhanu has assured the representatives of Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) that the board will put in force a system of random checking of tea exports to Pakistan with imemdiate effect. PTA representatives has made the Tae Board chairman recently where they expressed their concern on the quality of a few lots of teas imported to Pakistan.

PTA, visiting India on a mission to increase imports of Indian teas, was invited by the Tea Board chairman for an interactive session. PTA has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Tea Association to import 50 million kg of tea by 2015. Pakistan had imported about 24 million kg of tea from India during 2011, most of which is sourced from South India.

Pakistan consumes 220 million kg of tea annually. It mostly sources teas from Kenya, which is one of the leaders in CTC production. Pakistan imports 135 million kg of tea from Kenya.

Mr Mohammad Hanif Janoo, chairman, PTA has invited Tea Board chairman to lead a delegation to Pakistan in a bid to strengthen trade ties with India. Janoo has also promised to bring in a big delegation to participate at the International Tea Festival to be held in Goa in the last quarter of this year.