The Pakistan Horticulture and Development and Export Board (PHDEB) has allocated Rs300 million (£2.4m) for the development of the country’s horticulture sector.

Official PHDEB sources said on Sunday that these projects were being funded by the department of commerce and investment at the Punjab government, and approved by the planning and development department.

“Export of horticultural products can be doubled by adopting modern cultivation and storage facilities, as demand of these products has increased in both domestic and international markets because of their multiple use,” said the source.

Some Rs84.1m is being spent to establish a flora model farm in Pattoki, and a mango packhouse is to be established at a cost of Rs84.1m in Multan.

In addition, fruit and vegetable dehydration units will be constructed at a total cost of Rs109.1m, and land has been allocated for these in the Multan Industrial Estate. A date processing unit is to be constructed in Khairpur at a cost of Rs24.11m, with public-private partnership in Sindh.

All projects are to be supervised by foreign consultants.