Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani has said that climate change is a global issue, and its adverse impacts are being felt in various sectors, including Pakistan's date industry. He was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Second Pakistan International Dates Festival, held at the Expo Centre on Tuesday.
The festival, organised in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), aims to promote the cultivation and export of dates and create new avenues for local farmers and exporters. The event was also addressed by TDAP Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Faiz Ahmad, UAE Consul General Dr Bakheet Al-Atiq, and other dignitaries.
In his address, the minister said that it was a matter of pride for him to inaugurate the "Dates Festival", which reflects Pakistan's growing agricultural potential and ties with the Gulf countries. He added that Sindh is home to some of the best date-producing regions in the country, and a wide range of date-based products are being developed locally.
However, he pointed out that the date industry is currently facing several challenges, primarily due to the increasing impact of climate change. "Climate change is having a detrimental effect on date production," he said, adding that the Sindh government has established research centres aimed at exploring value-added products from dates and enhancing cultivation techniques.
Ghani expressed gratitude to the UAE government, its ambassador, and consul general for supporting the event, which he said would prove beneficial not only for date farmers in Sindh and across Pakistan but also help increase the country's foreign exchange earnings.
Later, speaking to media representatives, the minister reiterated that climate change is a pressing issue being faced by the entire world. He said international researchers attending the festival would exchange knowledge and explore solutions to mitigate climate-related challenges.
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