LAHORE:
The Punjab Tourism Department inaugurated the long -awaited Mango 2025 Festival in LaHore showing more than 50 varieties of the beloved summer fruit of Pakistan.
Celebrated in a local hotel, the two -day event attracted large crowds, including citizens, tourists, farmers, agricultural experts, students and professionals of the food and hospitality industry.
The festival offered a vibrant mixture of traditional dance, popular music, crafts and a wide range of mango -based dishes, turning the event into a unique celebration of agriculture, culture and culinary creativity.
The Festival was formally opened by the Secretary of Tourism of Punjab, Ahmad Tarar and Dr. Nasir Mehmood, managing director of the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (TDCP).
Tarar described the festival not only as a celebration of the mangoes but also as a tribute to the workers of Punjab and the rich agricultural and cultural heritage of the province.
Dr. Mehmood emphasized that the event serves as a platform to promote tourism, hospitality and local industries along with agriculture.
Agricultural expert Rana Asif Hayat Tipu stressed that five tons of mangoes with export quality were available to agricultural door prices to address public concerns that high -grade fruits are rarely accessible in retail markets.
However, he warned that climate change, intense heat, dust storms and water scarcity had seriously affected this year’s harvest, causing an estimated 40-50% decrease in production.
Read: Come mango at night for these 10 incredible health benefits
Experts pointed out that Pakistan generally produces around 1.8 million metric tons of annual mangoes, with Punjab contributing to 70%of national production, Sindh 29%and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa around 1%.
Due to adverse climatic conditions, it is projected that the production of 2025 decreases to approximately 1.4 million metric tons.
However, the government has raised the export objective to 125,000 metric tons this season, with the aim of $ 100 million (approximately PKR 28 million) in currency profits. Last year, only 13,681 metric tons were exported, generating $ 46.7 million.
Festival attendees, particularly women and young attendees, expressed emotion to witness such a diverse variety of mango varieties in one place, something that rarely find in local markets. Nimra, a representative of a hospitality group, shared that her position focused on teaching attendees how to prepare a variety of mango -based dishes such as cakes, smoothies, chutneys, juices and ice cream, promoting mangoes as a versatile ingredient beyond a simple cold fruit.
The young artist Sarah Muhammad Hussain and her team exhibited paintings with mango songs, capturing the vibrant colors of fruit and aromatic essence on the canvas.
Pakistan cultivates more than 200 mango varieties, approximately 20 of which are cultivated commercially and are exported worldwide. These include popular types such as Chaunnsa, Sindhri, Neelum, Anwar Ratol, Langra, Dussehri, Phali, Gulab Khas, Saroli and Zafran began.
Known for their exceptional flavor, aroma, color and nutritional value, Pakistani mangoes continue to enjoy premium status in international markets, which earned them the title “King of Fruits.”
According to TDCP officials, the mango festival plays a fundamental role in the impulse of agriculture and cultural exchange, while facilitating direct interaction between producers and exporters, which increases value chains and access to the market for local producers.
Previously, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi delighted with the sweet happiness of the mangoes, rightly rightly as the “king of fruits”, since the juicy delight brings joy to people of all ages in the summer season.
The vibrant mangoes exhibitions greet buyers in local markets, with vendors that show all types of mango of the renowned chaunnsa, Sindhri and Anwar Ratol to the precious Liagra, Fajli and Dusehri.
Each type of variety is easily available.
Mango lovers can savor Chaunse’s sweetness, Sindhri’s tangism, or explore other unique flavors, which makes twin cities a shelter for mango connoisseurs.
As people enjoy the mango season, sellers are working hard to meet demand. A fruit seller in the F-6 market of Islamabad, Muhammad Ali, shared that “we are importing mangoes of the best Sindh and Punjab orchards to guarantee the highest quality and flavor.”
He said that the mangoes are flying from the shelves and that they are having a great season so far, with Chaunnsa and Sindhri as the best sellers.
