LAHORE: The Punjab Tourism Department has launched the Mango Festival 2025 in Lahore, showcasing more than 50 types of Pakistan’s favourite summer fruit.
Held at a local hotel, the two-day festival attracted a large number of visitors including locals, tourists, farmers, agriculture experts, students, and professionals from the food and hospitality industries.
The event featured traditional dance, folk music, handicrafts, and many mango-based dishes, turning the festival into a colourful celebration of agriculture, culture, and food.
Punjab Secretary of Tourism Fareed Ahmad Tarar and TDCP Managing Director Dr Nasir Mehmood officially inaugurated the festival.
Speaking at the event, Tarar said the festival was not only about mangoes but also a tribute to Punjab’s hardworking farmers and its rich cultural and agricultural traditions. Dr Mehmood said the event also promotes tourism, hospitality, and local industries, while giving exposure to agriculture.
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Agriculture expert Rana Asif Hayat Tipu shared that five tons of export-quality mangoes were being sold at farm-gate prices to make premium mangoes accessible to the public. However, he warned that climate change, high temperatures, dust storms, and water shortages had badly impacted this year’s mango crop, with production expected to drop by 40–50%.
Pakistan usually produces around 1.8 million metric tons of mangoes each year, with Punjab contributing 70%, Sindh 29%, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1%. But in 2025, the total output is expected to fall to 1.4 million metric tons due to harsh weather conditions.
Despite the drop, the government has set a higher export target of 125,000 metric tons this season, aiming to earn $100 million in foreign exchange. Last year, only 13,681 metric tons were exported, earning $46.7 million.
Visitors, especially women and youth, showed excitement at seeing so many different mango varieties in one place—something not commonly found in regular markets.
Nimra, from a hospitality group, said their stall was teaching people how to make mango cakes, shakes, chutneys, juices, and ice creams, showing how mangoes can be used in many ways beyond eating them raw.
Young artist Sarah Muhammad Hussain and her team presented mango-themed paintings, highlighting the fruit’s bright colours and sweet aroma on canvas.
Pakistan grows over 200 varieties of mangoes, with around 20 types exported worldwide. Famous types include Chaunsa, Sindhri, Neelum, Anwar Ratol, Langra, Dussehri, Began Phali, Gulab Khas, Saroli, and Zafran.
Thanks to their rich taste, colour, smell, and nutrition, Pakistani mangoes are loved across the globe and are rightly called the “King of Fruits.”
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According to TDCP officials, the Mango Festival helps promote agri-tourism, cultural exchange, and direct contact between mango growers and exporters, improving the value chain and opening new markets for local farmers.
Earlier, mango season celebrations were also seen in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where markets are filled with fresh and juicy mangoes. Vendors are offering a wide variety including Chaunsa, Sindhri, Anwar Ratol, Langra, Fajli, and Dussehri.
In Islamabad’s F-6 market, vendor Muhammad Ali said, “We are bringing mangoes from the best orchards in Sindh and Punjab to offer the best flavour and quality.” He added that sales are booming, with Chaunsa and Sindhri being the top choices this season.
