Punjab Government holds Mango Festival 2012’

Islamabad:Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the holding of the first ‘Punjab Mango Festival 2012’ in the country will give access to mango growers and exporters to international markets and also help introduce other agri items of Punjab to the world.

He said that in spite of load-shedding, Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme for the development of agriculture sector. He said that agri items of the province are being introduced at international level and the efforts made by the provincial government for the uplift of agricultural sector have also been appreciated at international level.

He said that Punjab government is desirous of introducing food items, vegetables and fruits of the province in the world and had showcased 22 agri items and other products in the International Green Week held in Berlin Germany at the beginning of the current year with the aim of introducing its produces in the European markets. Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab Mango Festival arranged under joint collaboration of Punjab Board of Investment & Trade, Agriculture Department and City District Government Rahim Yar Khan will open up new avenues of trade for mango cultivators and exporters as well as create opportunities for further increasing production of fruits in the province.

He said that participation of diplomats, industrialists and other individuals associated with agri sector in the festival is encouraging and the departments concerned of the Punjab government deserve appreciation for the holding the first mango festival of its kind in the country. He said that Punjab government has taken solid steps for the improvement of agriculture, livestock, dairy, horticulture and floriculture sectors as well as provision of necessary facilities to the farming community.

This was stated by him in a message read at the inaugural ceremony of Punjab Mango Festival 2012 jointly arranged by Agriculture Department, Punjab Board of Investment & Trade and City District Government Rahim Yar Khan in Islamabad. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Ishaq Dar inaugurated the exhibition. Vice Chairman Punjab Board of Investment & Trade Dr. Mufta Ismael, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Mian Mushtaq, foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Islamabad, mango growers, traders, buyers and a large number of people were present on the occasion. As many as 110 varieties of mangoes grown in Punjab and Sindh including Chaunsa, Doseri, Langra, Anwar Retore and Sindhri have been displayed at the exhibition.

Senator Ishaq Dar further said that credit goes to Punjab government which despite limited resources has brought improvement in education, health and other sectors of economic development through an effective strategy. He said that the overall economic progress and growth rate have drastically slowed down due to poor policies and mismanagement at the federal level as well as load-shedding and it has also shaken the confidence of foreign investors.