The second edition of the Pakistani Mango Festival (Al Hamba Exhibition) opened yesterday at Souq Waqif, beckoning visitors to relish the sweetness of an array of mangoes along with its products.
Held at the Eastern Square of Souq Waqif until July 19, the festival is organised by the Private Engineering Office in co-ordination with the Embassy of Pakistan.
Abdulrahman Mohammed al-Nama, representative of the Private Engineering Office (PEO), inaugurated the festival in the presence of Pakistan ambassador Muhammad Amir and festival general supervisor Khalid Saif al-Suwaidi along with a number of diplomats from various countries.
The exhibition sells Sindhri, Chaunsa, Safed Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and Duseri along with Pakistani seasonal fruits such as black plum, peach, plum and falsa and peaches – all freshly flown exclusively for the festival. Also, a number of mango products including juices, ice creams and cakes are on sale. The exhibition is open daily from 4pm to 9pm except on public holidays when it receives visitors until 10pm.
The Pakistan envoy told Gulf Times the festival is all set to lend the visitors a unique experience combining fresh flavours and authentic products. He thanked the PEO for organising the festival and said it will turn out to be an ideal venue to manifest the Pakistani culture and boost the cultural and trade relationships with Qatar. He said the sales will go up this year.
Al-Suwaidi said the second edition has 74 sellers, mostly local, while several companies from Pakistan with a track record of producing high-quality mangoes are part of the festival. The exhibition also features more than 25 restaurants and shops specialised in the food and hospitality sector to offer Pakistani culinary experience with dishes and a variety of mango products.
Al-Suwaidi noted that conditions for participation were strict and focused on ensuring the quality of the displayed items. The timing of the exhibition was carefully chosen to coincide with the peak mango production season in Pakistan, as all the displayed products are of Pakistani origin.
Al-Suwaidi pointed out that prices were set to be affordable emphasising that the displayed products are unique and not available in local markets.
The exhibition features a suitable environment to preserve the quality of the mango, with the event site equipped with appropriate cooling systems to ensure the best possible visitor experience.
The organising committee has urged the public to visit the exhibition early to ensure they get the finest fresh Pakistani mangoes and to enjoy a unique tasting experience that reflects the diversity and authenticity of Pakistani cuisine.