KARACHI: The ministry of foreign affairs and the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association in collaboration with Karachi Marriott Hotel hosted the `Mango Festival 2025` at the hotel`s Grand Ballroom here on Thursday.

While reflecting Pakistan`s commitment to soft diplomacy, economic growth through agribusiness, and the power of cultural exchange,allunderthebanner ofafruit that continues to unite and delight, the festival showcased export varieties of some 15 mangoes, including Sindhri, Ratay Wala, Bali Wala, Lal Badshah, Anwar Ratol, Fajri, desi mango and several types of Chaunsa alongwith sweet and savory delicacies with mango as the main ingredient.

The guests were also welcomed with a choice of mango juice or mango milkshake and mango ice cream.

Held primarily to showcase Pakistan`s famous mango varieties and foster cultural and diplomatic engagement through the country`s most celebrated fruit, the festival also highlighted some noteworthy facts about mango cultivation in Pakistan.

There are some 250 varieties of mangoes grown in Pakistan which are exported to more than 50 countries. We are the sixth largest producer of mangoes in the world and the fourthlargest exporter.

The fruit, or rather, `king of fruits` was first introduced in different parts of the world in the 1960s by Pakistani diplomats, in fact it is Pakistani mangoes that have given rise to the term `Mango diplomacy`.

Some of the biggest importers of Pakistani mangoes include China, the UAE, the UK,Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Germany. Today Pakistan produces 3.5 per cent of the global supply of mangoes. In fact, mangoes are one of the major exports of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, the chief guest, said that he learnt from consul generals of various countries attending the Mango Festival that Pakistani mangoes are very expensive in their countries. `The consul general of Turkiye informed me that a mango costs eight Euro each in his country. Similarly, the consul general of Russia told me that a mango is even costlier than that in Russia. So I think growing mangoes in Pakistan can make Pakistanis very rich,` he said. `Perhaps the mango may be a common seasonal fruit for you but you should understand its worth internationally.

This fact is not to be taken for granted.

Mangoes bring a good business opportunity for exporting for you,` he pointed out.