The first commercial shipment of fresh Sri Lankan pineapples has arrived in Karachi, marking a new milestone in agricultural trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The shipment was officially welcomed at an inauguration ceremony held on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Pure Fresh Market in Karachi.
The initiative to secure access for Sri Lankan fresh pineapples to the Pakistani market was led by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi in coordination with Sri Lanka’s Department of Commerce. The required phytosanitary approvals were successfully completed through cooperation between Pakistan’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) and Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service.
Speaking at the event, Sanjeewa Pattiwila, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Karachi, described the first shipment as an important step in strengthening Sri Lanka–Pakistan trade relations and introducing Sri Lankan premium-quality pineapples to consumers in Pakistan.
He expressed confidence that the development would support greater bilateral agricultural trade while creating new opportunities for exporters and importers in both countries.
The inauguration was attended by business leaders, members of the diplomatic community, social media influencers and other invited guests, who were given an opportunity to sample the freshly arrived pineapples.
Guests praised the fruit for its freshness, sweetness and quality, while welcoming the introduction of Sri Lankan pineapples to the Pakistani market. The event also received extensive coverage across print, electronic and social media, increasing awareness of Sri Lankan fresh pineapples among Pakistani consumers.
As part of the market-access process, a technical expert from Pakistan’s NPPO visited Sri Lanka in July 2026 to inspect pineapple production facilities and plant quarantine procedures.
The visit was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service, supporting the completion of the technical requirements necessary for the export of fresh pineapples to Pakistan.
Sri Lanka and Vietnam Partner on Regional Aviation Safety Data Sharing Initiative
Sri Lanka and Vietnam have joined a regional aviation safety initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation among aviation authorities through the sharing of safety data and information across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) formally became members of the Regional Aviation Safety Data and Information Sharing Initiative on September 8, during the 61st Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA Conference) held in Malaysia.
The initiative was first proposed at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety in Singapore in 2023 before being formally established in 2024 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. With Sri Lanka and Vietnam joining, the initiative now has seven participating States.
Under the initiative, participating countries exchange de-identified aviation safety data and information to identify common safety hazards, track emerging trends and support the development of measures to effectively manage aviation safety risks.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), including Toshiyuki Onuma, President of the ICAO Council; Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General; and Tao Ma, ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Director.
The agreement was signed by representatives of the participating civil aviation authorities, including Captain Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of CAASL, and Do Hong Cam, Deputy Director General of CAAV.
Sri Lankan Fresh Pineapples Reach Karachi Market
