Pak embassy hosts mango festival in US

The embassy of Pakistan Thursday hosted its annual Mango Festival, welcoming a large crowd to experience the "king of fruits" at the event that was part of the embassy's public outreach efforts.

The gathering included diplomats, US government officials, congressional staff, think-tank members, media representatives, and the Pakistani-American diaspora, according to a press release of the embassy.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh highlighted the significance of mangoes in Pakistani culture and society referring to them as "the best mangoes in the world".

Pakistan, he said, is the sixth-largest producer globally, with an annual cultivation of approximately 1.8 million metric tons.

Speaking at the occasion, Mary Bischoping, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, thanked Ambassador Sheikh for his continued leadership in strengthening the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship.

"For decades, the United States and Pakistan have worked together to address some of the world's most critical issues. Looking forward, we are poised to continue to grow our cooperation across a range of shared interests," said the Deputy Assistant Secretary.

Ms. Bischoping also welcomed Pakistan's initiatives to enhance trade and investment and affirmed the US commitment to economic cooperation. "We hope to expand mutually beneficial trade and commercial opportunities, especially in Pakistan's growing critical mineral sector," she said.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary also underscored the significant contributions of the Pakistani-American community. "In the United States today, over 700,000 hardworking Pakistani-Americans are invaluable members of American society. Our work at the State Department directly benefits from the patriotism, talent, and passion of this community", she said.