Pakistan will export mangoes worth $30 million during the current season, as many countries are interested to import mangoes from Pakistan, it is learnt. The annual exhibition, 'Mango Show', is being held in Rahim Yar Khan city under the aegis of the district agriculture department from June 23 to 25 in the auditorium of Sheikh Zayed Public School here.
Another mango festival would be organised in Multan in July. Sources said that in the mango show different varieties of mangoes would be displayed on more than 100 stalls. Best varieties of mango are produced in Rahim Yar Khan district.
Foreign buyers are being invited to introduce Pakistani mangoes abroad as the purpose of the show is to introduce the mangoes at national and international levels.
The government has announced that prizes worth Rs 400,000, including cash rewards of Rs 180,000, would be distributed among the winners. The district government has made all arrangements for holding the show.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan earns about $24 million annually from mango exports. Mango is the second major fruit crop grown on an area of over 93,000 hectares with a production of the 915,000 tons every year. Sources said that around 60-70 percent good quality fruits are exported to Middle East countries, followed by 15-16 percent to European states. They said that the total exports vary from year to year but there is huge potential for export of Pakistani mango in world markets.