Enter the king of fruits: Rahim Yar Khan goes mangoes

Prizes were given to those who set up the best stalls.

BAHAWALPUR:

The four-day long Mango Show organised by the district government and the Agriculture Department in Rahim Yar Khan ended on Monday.

Parliamentary Secretary Mian Imtiaz Ahmad and District Coordination Officer Nabeel Javed distributed prizes among winners of the mango eating competition and farmers who had set up stalls at the mango show.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Ahmad said that the government was paying special attentions towards mango orchards and was taking measures to increase the production and sale of mangoes. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had assured him that a cold storage facility for mangoes would be established in the area and an industrial zone would be established in Rahim Yar Khan.

He said that 22 per cent of the mangoes in the country came from Rahim Yar Khan. He said mangoes from the area were famous for their distinguished taste. He said the fruit had great export potential and it was known for its high quality all over the world.

Javed said the Mango Show had been arranged to celebrate the efforts of farmers in Rahim Yar Khan. He said they had earned Rahim Yar Khan great fame by growing high quality mangoes.

He said that the district government would hold a growth agricultural forum to collate suggestions and requests from farmers in the district. He said the suggestions would be sent to the government.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz district president Khalid Shaheen and Agriculture EDO Zafaryab Haider also spoke on the occasion.

As many as 74 varieties of mangoes were displayed at the Mango Show. Hundreds of families thronged the show and enjoyed the seasonal fruit.

Among the men, Abdul Rauf ate the most mangoes and secured first position during the competition. Muhammad Irfan stood second and Muhammad Habibullah secured third position.

Among women, Ammara Shafique ate the most mangoes and stood first, Iqra Shafique secured the second position and Fatima Bibi came third.

Among children, Muhammad Fahad gobbled down the most mangoes and stood first, Aliya Zaheer secured second position and Habeeba stood third.

Among the private stalls, Makhdoom Ali Akbar Mehmood was awarded first prize for the mangoes he had displayed. Ghulam Mehmood Subhani secured second position and Makhdoom Syed Alam Anwar was awarded third prize.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2014.