He was talking to the gathering as chief guest at dates festival arranged by Agri Tourism Development Corporation at Wali Gardens, Express Highway Faisalabad. He said that our country annual date production had crossed 550,000 tons. The dates is being produced in the areas of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. He said our dates quality was equally good as Iran and Saudi Arabia. They are world leaders in the date production. But due to lack of value addition, processing industry etc, most of Pakistani dates are dried which is put in gunny bags and taken to market. A large quantity of dried dates is exported to our neighbouring countries. The export dates market demands compliance of global food standards. He said that lack of awareness regarding best farming practices, improper handling of fruit, and an absence of developed processing facilities are one of major constraints lowering profitable date production in the country.
He urged the scientists, experts and others stakeholders to play their role to make the product value added that will help the county earn heavy foreign exchange from the international market. He said that the dates were having high nutrient values and the such festival will help create the awareness among the farmers and general public about benefit and modern trends. Agri Tourism Development Corporation CEO Tariq Tanveer said that they are used to hold such festival in order to promote the agriculture and rural landscape. He said agriculture now moves in to field of tourism and entertainment farming. The Corporation also organizes agricultural events, agri-field trips and field activities, agri-field picnic party for community. Member Public Service Commission Munir Chishti; Dr Ehsan Ul Haq, Dr Khalid Shouq, along with a large number of locals participated in the festival.