Business Desk (ANKARA):
The Pakistani Embassy in capital Ankara organized its fourth annual mango festival on Tuesday evening, leaving many with a desire to eat more of the “king of fruits”.
Several mango varieties had been flown in from Pakistan for the event.
Speaking at the festival, Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi said: “We have been hosting this mango festival for four years now and each time it is better than before.
“To us Pakistanis, mango is not only a fruit but is also an integral part of our history and rich culture,” he said, adding that there are over 110 varieties of high quality Pakistani mangoes, including Sindhri, Anwar Retaul, Lungra, Malda, Dusehri, Fajri and the most popular Chaunsa.
Speaking on the occasion, ambassador Syrus Sajjad Qazi said that Pakistan is the 5th largest producer and the 6th largest exporter of mangoes.
A large number of Turks on Wednesday got a first-hand experience of the taste and aroma of the Pakistani mangoes as they converged in Ankara at a gathering to feast on a wide spread of mango delights made out of freshly-arrived juicy fruit.
The event organised at the Pakistan House was aimed at further popularising Pakistani mangoes in Turkey and facilitating their availability in the local market.
The “Pakistan Mango & Food Festival”, held by the Embassy of Pakistan, coincided with the celebration of the Independence Day of Pakistan.
Key political figures, fruit importers, diplomats and media representatives attended the festival in which the guests were served with fresh mango and mango cuts, and wide-range of mango delicacies such as milk-shake, lassi, ice cream, salad, soufflé, mousse, trifle, tart, pudding, and cake, made of fresh mangoes from Pakistan.
Biryani’ made of famous Pakistani Basmati rice was also served at the festival with selected Pakistani music in the backdrop. A photographic display of Pakistan’s natural beauty also formed part of the event.