Pakistan Hosts First International Date Festival at Karachi

The three-day festival, showcases a wide range

of date varieties from Pakistan’s top-producing

regions, including Sindh, Balochistan, and KP

Sahir Baloch

Karachi: The inaugural session of Pakistan’s First International Date Palm Festival took place at the Expo Centre today. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah praised the efforts of farmers and traders who gathered from across the country and abroad to showcase their expertise and products.

Importance of Date Palms

Mr. Shah emphasized the significance of date palms as a valuable cash crop. He noted their nutritional and economic importance. Pakistan has over 252,000 acres dedicated to date palm cultivation, producing more than 730,000 tonnes of dates in 2022. This achievement solidifies Pakistan’s position in the global date market.

However, the Chief Minister acknowledged challenges in maximizing the value of date production. Pakistan ranks fifth in production and third in export quantity, yet its international trade value remains low. He stressed the need for improved rain-tolerant and high-yielding varieties, along with modern post-harvest technologies.

Sindh’s Leadership in Date Production

Mr. Shah highlighted Sindh’s leadership in date production, contributing over 57% of the nation’s output. Balochistan follows with 33.5%, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa contributes 2.5%. He pointed to Khairpur as a biodiversity hub, boasting over 300 cultivars, including the prized Aseel variety, which makes up about 70% of national production. The Chief Minister also mentioned esteemed varieties such as Begum Jhangi and Mozavati from Balochistan and Dhakki from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Workshops Highlight Innovation in Agriculture

The festival featured workshops and panel discussions focusing on modern date farming techniques, international market trends, and challenges facing exporters. Agricultural experts shared best practices on value addition, product packaging, and certification standards required for export. A major highlight was the discussion on enhancing the global competitiveness of Pakistani dates through modern farming techniques.

Key Topics Discussed

• International Market Trends: Exploring opportunities for organic and premium date varieties.
• Improving Supply Chains: Addressing logistics, cold storage, and exporting challenges.
• Value Addition: Enhancing packaging and branding to attract global consumers.

International Collaboration and MoUs

During the festival, Pakistan signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with countries like Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. These agreements aim to foster trade collaboration in the date sector, opening new avenues for knowledge sharing and expanding market access for Pakistani date farmers.

Commitment to Sustainable Growth

In closing, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed confidence that the festival would pave the way for sustainable growth in the sector. He reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing international partnerships, particularly with the UAE, and fostering innovations to unlock Pakistan’s potential in the global date market.

Furthermore, he announced a groundbreaking project to introduce date palm cultivation in the Thar Desert. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research, through the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, assessed 38 varieties and recommended eight for large-scale propagation.

Recognizing Top Growers

Mr. Shah distributed certificates and cash prizes to top growers. He inaugurated the festival by cutting a ribbon alongside Governor Sindh Mohammad Kamran Tissori and UAE Ambassador Mr. Hamad Obaid Al Zabi.