Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Food Security and Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
Support from the United Arab Emirates
Opening of the Second International Pakistani Date Festival 2025
With the participation of 118 exhibitors and producers of dates from the United Arab Emirates, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Morocco , the United Mexican States, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Turkey, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
Karachi (News Desk)::The 2nd Pakistan International Date Festival was inaugurated on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in Karachi by His Excellency Saeed Ghani, Chief Guest, Sindh Minister. The event was attended by His Excellency Faiz Ahmed, CEO, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDP), His Excellency Dr. Bakhit Atiq Al Rumaithi, Consul General, Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Bukhari Zaid, Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation at the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates, and a number of members of the diplomatic corps, experts and specialists in date palm cultivation and date production in Pakistan.
His Excellency Mr. Saeed Ghani, the chief guest and Minister of Sindh Province, expressed his happiness at the existing cooperation between the two friendly countries, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at various levels. His Excellency also extended his thanks and appreciation to the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates for their support for the festival, which aims to develop and advance the palm cultivation and date production sector in the Republic of Pakistan. He emphasized that this festival has contributed to strengthening the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, and the Export Development Authority of Pakistan, the strategic partner. The General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation aims to enhance food security and achieve sustainable development.
Mr. Faiz Ahmed, CEO, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, also noted the success of the first edition of this festival, held last year, in showcasing Pakistan’s potential, attracting international buyers, and strengthening our agricultural ties with the UAE. Today, with an increased number of exhibitors, international pavilions, and knowledge sessions, this second edition builds on this success to open new avenues for trade, technology, and investment. He extended his sincere thanks to the UAE government and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation for their strong partnership and continued support for the date palm sector in Pakistan.
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Bakhit Ateeq Al Rumaithi, Consul General of the UAE Consulate General in Karachi, noted that the second Pakistani International Date Festival affirms the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries and the close cooperation that links the two peoples and nations. Pointing to the efforts of the General Secretariat of the Award in developing the palm cultivation sector and date production at the national, regional and international levels, which has contributed to strengthening the UAE’s leading position in this sector. He pointed to the role played by the Award over eighteen years of continuous success through organizing a series of international date conferences and a series of date festivals in a number of date-producing and exporting countries . Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, may God protect him.
His Excellency Prof. Abdul Wahab Al Bukhari Zayed, Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation at the Presidential Court, also pointed out that the award has achieved tangible success in organizing a series of date festivals, reaching 63 festivals in nine date-producing countries: the United Arab Emirates, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Sudan, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of Mexico, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
This confirms the international standing of the award and its ongoing role as a platform for building partnerships in the development and advancement of date cultivation, production, processing and marketing, and the advancement of this sector. This is thanks to the attention the award receives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and the follow-up of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. . Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs’ Families, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation.
The Secretary General of the Award added that the festival, like the rest of the festivals organized by the Award, includes a Pakistani date competition in which participants participated. 65 The festival will feature 118 exhibitors representing the following countries: the United Arab Emirates, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of Mexico, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Turkey, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A scientific symposium will accompany the festival, attended by 12 international researchers and experts specializing in date palm cultivation and date production.
Honoring the competition winners
The ceremony honoring the winners of the Pakistani Date Competition took place amid joy among all participants. The results were as follows:
First category: Best types of dates of the “Aseel” variety, won by Abdul Basit Maimoun
Second category: The best types of dates of the “Dakki” variety, won by Irfan Allah
Category 3: The best types of dates from the “Mazwati” variety, won by Saghir Ahmed
Category 4: Best Handicraft from Date Palm Waste, won by Marvi Sohrab Shadar
Category 5: Best Palm Farm in Pakistan, jointly won by Murad Hassan and Mian Mohsin Qureshi
Category 6: Best Food Product from Pakistani Dates, won by Muhammad Iftikhar Khan
Category 7: Best Date Processing Plant in Pakistan, won by Muhammad Ali
Category 8: Best Applied Scientific Research (Research Paper) on Date Palms in Pakistan, won by Dr. Waqas Wakil
Meanwhile, the three best individuals who contributed to serving the palm cultivation and date production sector in Pakistan were honored:
1- Mr. Athar Hussain Kocher, Director General, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan / CEO, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Corporation.
2- Dr. Attaullah Khan, Director General, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council – Southern Agricultural Research Centre, Karachi.
3- Mr. Rizwan Hayat Khan, Agricultural Production Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Balochistan Province.
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