The second edition of the Pakistani Mango Festival, under Al Hamba Exhibition, is taking place at Souq Waqif’s Eastern Square in Doha from Thursday until July 19. Organised by the Celebrations Committee of the Private Engineering Office (PEO) in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Qatar, the festival welcomes visitors daily from 4pm to 9pm, with extended hours until 10pm on official holidays.

Following the strong public turnout and positive feedback from last year’s inaugural event, this year’s edition has expanded its scale. According to PEO, over 70 sellers will participate, including more than 60 Qatari companies and over 10 specialised Pakistani firms involved in mango trading and export. These companies are offering premium mango varieties flown in fresh from Pakistan specifically for the festival, with several new types making their debut in the Qatari market.

The exhibition also features over 25 restaurants and shops from the food and hospitality sector. Visitors can sample a variety of innovative mango-based dishes, desserts, and products that add a rich cultural and culinary experience to the event. Organisers have ensured that the venue is equipped with adequate cooling systems to maintain the freshness of mangoes delivered daily from Pakistan.

General supervisor Khalid Saif al-Suwaidi highlighted the extensive local and Pakistani participation, noting that the event aims to boost economic activity by encouraging trade exchange and fostering healthy competition among vendors, thereby offering greater variety and quality to consumers.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Qatar, Muhammad Aamer, described the festival as a celebration of Pakistan’s renowned mango varieties and agricultural heritage. He praised the Private Engineering Office’s organising committee for their efforts in strengthening the ties of friendship and collaboration between Pakistan and Qatar. Additionally, Pakistan Embassy’s Trade and Investment Attaché Serein Asad expressed gratitude to the organisers, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan for their support in making the event possible.

Separately, the Al Hamba Exhibition also recently hosted 2nd Indian Mango Festival, which recorded over 44,000 visitors and sale of about 130,000kg. That event featured 55 mango varieties from India, with participation from 38 companies and daily shipments ensuring quality control.

The Bangladesh Embassy also joined the Al Hamba Exhibition for the first time this year.