52nd mango and summer fruit festival kicks off

150 varieties of the fruit on display in Mirpurkhas

HYDERABAD: With around 150 varieties of mangoes on display, the 52nd annual mango and summer fruit festival kicked off in Mirpurkhas district on Friday evening. As many as 70 stalls displaying mangoes varying in taste, colour and nutrition attracted visitors.



"Sindh is the hub of mango production," said Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, who inaugurated the three-day event. He announced that a similar festival will soon be organised at the Expo Centre in Karachi to promote the fruit.

Agriculture Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro highlighted the export potential of mangoes. But, he added, that mango farmers require training and support to market their produce in developed countries.

The varieties put on display include Sindhri, Saroli, Anwar Ratol, Neelam, Sham Sundar, Anmol, Zaafran, Almas and Langro, among others. Farmers from Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Tando Allahyar and other districts of Sindh participated in the event.

The festival is being organised by the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute.



Land Scam

The home minister said he will conduct an inquiry into the alleged attempt to hand over 76 acres of land in Mirpurkhas that belongs to the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute for a Benazir Bhutto Basti. He assured that if the government officials are found to be involved in the wrongdoing, disciplinary action will be taken.

The institute conducts research on various crops on the land in question, including mangoes and other fruits. The institute has reportedly written to the provincial government that trees from the land are being chopped down to clear space for the housing project.