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KARACHI, June 08, 2026: The Beijing Jingwa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center and Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop industrial tomato varieties for Pakistan during a Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Hangzhou, held as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China.
Waheed Ahmed, Director Marketing of Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., and Zhao Guodong, Director Business Development of the Jingwa Center, signed the agreement.
Under the MoU, the Chinese research institution will provide industrial-grade tomato varieties with high Brix levels, strong solids content, and improved pulp yield. As a result, these varieties will support the production of high-quality tomato paste and puree.
Moreover, both sides will begin a research and development phase in Sindh. During this phase, six to seven tomato varieties will undergo field and greenhouse trials. In addition, Chinese and Pakistani experts will jointly assess their adaptability to local climate, soil conditions, farming practices, and disease pressures.
Meanwhile, the Jingwa Center will also transfer advanced agricultural technologies and modern cultivation techniques. It will further provide technical expertise to improve productivity and crop quality. Furthermore, the partnership will promote year-round tomato production through controlled environment agriculture. Consequently, it aims to ensure stable yields and consistent quality.
After successful trials, both sides will introduce the most suitable varieties for commercial cultivation and industrial processing in Pakistan. At the same time, Chinese experts will continue providing technical support during the scale-up phase.
Speaking on the agreement, Waheed Ahmed said the collaboration would strengthen agricultural research and development in Pakistan. He added that local cultivation of industrial tomato varieties could save around $1 million annually in tomato paste imports. In addition, he said the initiative would boost exports of value-added agricultural products.
He further noted that the partnership could attract up to $7 million in investment. He also confirmed that the selected seed variety would be registered in Pakistan and made available to farmers on a wider scale, helping increase national tomato production.
Both organizations described the agreement as a key milestone in Pakistan-China agricultural cooperation. They said it would help modernize Pakistan’s tomato value chain and strengthen long-term collaboration in agri-technology.
Overall, the initiative is expected to support import substitution, reduce dependence on imported tomato paste, enhance local processing capacity, and improve food security through a more climate-resilient tomato production system in Sindh.
