The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pakistan High Commission, Dhaka in collaboration with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Government of Pakistan, is organizing the 5th Pakistan Date Show at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on the 18th & 19th August 2008. Prominent Date growers and exporters from Pakistan will be exhibiting their products and varieties. The target audience of the show will be the fruit importers, dealers, wholesalers, distributors, super stores, retailers and consumers of the product. Dr. C.S Karim, Adviser, Agriculture, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh will inaugurate the Show.

Pakistan produces more than 6,00,000 metric tons of dates and is among the top 5 producers of date in the world. Pakistan supplies both dry and fresh dates. Pakistan's total export of dates has crossed US$ 36 million in 2006-07. For the past some years, exporters and growers of dates have been visiting Bangladesh. Due to its climate and soil conditions, dates in Pakistan ripe earlier than other date producing countries. Therefore these are available in time for the forthcoming Ramadan season. Pakistan has increased its share of date exports to Bangladesh from significantly. Bangladesh is one of the largest importer and consumer of Dates in the world, and an important non-date producing country.

Date varieties like Aseel, Muzawati, Karbala, Fasli and Kepro of Sindh, Begum Jangi etc. are being exported, in keeping with the growing demand for fresh dates, the first of the season from Pakistan.

The 10-member Date Delegation of Date exporters from Pakistan will arrive on 15th August 2008. Besides participating in the Date Show they will also visit the Badam Talli Date market and meet the small and medium importers of the dates as well. The exporters will also have individual business meetings with local importers of dates. If any importer of dates wish to seek a meeting with the delegation they may contact Commercial Counselor of Pakistan High Commission at the following address or email at pakcom.bdg@tdap.gov.pk .