Pakistan's Promotional Launch Of Mangoes Begins On Sweet Note

By Tengku Faizah Tengku Yusof KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Beginning this month, Malaysians can take a bite of the sweet side of Pakistan. The Pakistan High Commission has launched a 'festival of mangoes' to promote the fruit from the South-Central Asian country which is the sixth largest producer of mangoes. The promotional launch which was held at the shopping mall Sunway Giza Saturday, involves 30 hypermarkets in the Klang Valley (area comprising Kuala Lumpur and adjoining cities and towns in Selangor state), including Econsave, Aeon, Giant and Mydin, and later in Penang (Malaysia's northern state). Stating the mangoes would be sold at affordable and competitive prices, Pakistan High Commssioner to Malaysia, Syed Hasan Raza said such a strategic approach was to raise awareness of the "special quality" of Pakistani mangoes to Malaysian consumers, and make them available at mainstream retail hypermarkets. Speaking to Bernama in an interview Friday night after promoting the mangoes to guests at a hotel here, he explained that Pakistani mangoes were versatile, grown with different strains and matured from May to September. "Annually, Pakistan grows almost two million tonnes of mango and is the sixth largest producer in the world. "For past two years, we have introduced different types of mangoes, namely 'Sindhri' mangoes and this time, 'Chaunsa' mangoes to Malaysian consumers. "If we are able to bring all the varieties of mangoes to Malaysia, I am sure we can very easily export 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes to Malaysia, which are huge numbers, he noted. Syed Hasan said the quality of fruits produced by Pakistan over the years, especially mangoes had improved via collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. According to a report from The Express Tribune website, exporters in Punjab, Pakistan exported a record 91,700 tonnes of mangoes last year and 82,000 tonnes in 2013, indicating the exports had increased despite the European Union's strict monitoring on the quality of fruits. (picture) Two Pakistanis checks on the Pakistan Mangoes during the promotional launching of mango festival by Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur Friday night. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA