109 tonnes of mangoes sold in five days of Al Hamba Festival

More than 109,000kg of mangoes were sold in the first five days of the Al Hamba Festival, receiving a huge response from Qatar residents and visitors, organisers have said.

The event was launched on June 27 at Souq Waqif and showcases this iconic fruit's diverse flavours and varieties, including Chaunsa, Safeed Chaunsa, Sidhri, Anwar Ratool and Duseri.

It is organised by the Pakistan embassy in Doha in collaboration with the Celebrations Organising Committee of the Private Engineering Office (PEO).

"We've had a very positive response from people in Qatar. We've been able to showcase different varieties of mangoes throughout the festival, and we expect even more varieties to arrive from the Punjab region soon," Serein Asad, trade and investment attache at the Pakistan embassy in Doha, told reporters on the sidelines of the festival.

"The Punjab mangoes are bigger, more aromatic, and sweeter with a richer taste," she added.

She noted that the 10-day event also features mango saplings, providing an opportunity to introduce people to the entire process of mango cultivation, from the tree to the final product.

According to Asad, this exhibition is an opportunity to explore how to cultivate mangoes in Qatar, given its climate and sustainable farming practices.

Besides mangoes, she said the festival also showcases other Pakistani fruits, many of which are not readily available in Qatari supermarkets.

Visitors can enjoy jamun and falsa, a blueberry-like fruit with a sour flavor, in addition to peaches, apricots, and plums.

"We want to introduce people to the diverse range of fruits available in Pakistan," the embassy official said. "We've had a great turnout, with people from all walks of life coming to enjoy the festival with their families. We've even seen transit passengers, who are only in Qatar for 24 hours, stopping by."

Khaled Saif al-Suwaidi, general supervisor of the festival, echoed the positive sentiment, highlighting the significant number of visitors.

"This is a huge number for an exhibition, and we're seeing new varieties of mangoes coming in every few days," he said. "It also offers a glimpse into the Pakistani culture."

He noted that the festival aims to connect mango sellers and producers with Qatari businesses, exploring innovative ways to cultivate mangoes in Qatar.

It also serves as a cultural exchange, attracting visitors from various countries, including Nepal and China, and from the GCC, Europe, and the Arab region.