KARACHI — Pakistanis are abandoning much-publicised mango exports to the United States after just a year because American requirements made profit margins too narrow, members of the industry said Monday.
In 2011, Pakistani growers exported five tons of the country's signature fruit to the United States and had hoped for a higher yield this year.
But if exports grind to a halt, it could prove embarrassing for efforts dubbed "mango diplomacy" in 2010 when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered to help Pakistan export the fruit in a bid to ease anti-Americanism.
The US embassy was unavailable for comment, but announced in January that US support had helped select mango growers increase regional exports by more than 60 percent and revenue by more than $4 million over the past year.
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