Some of the best agro and livestock products are coming to town at the two-day Pakistan Agro Festival beginning today. Jointly organised by Pakistan-Qatar Business Forum (PQBF) and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the festival features best varieties of Pakistani mangoes, including the popular Anwar Rataul and Chaunsa besides export quality rice and meat.
The event kicks off with a press meet by the visiting delegation of exporters and businessmen at Ezdan Mall. It will be followed by the inaugural session for which the PQBF has invited Qatari dignitaries, government officials, representatives of catering companies and supermarkets besides importers.
“A number of major exporters from Pakistan who are already established entities in the GCC, Europe and USA will be present during the event and display their products,” said Ahmad Hussain, President of PQBF and organiser of the festival.
At the festival dubbed ‘Taste of Pakistan’ and sponsored by Zaoq Restaurants, the guests and visitors will not only be able to see but taste the Pakistani delicacies. “On the first day, all our guests will be served traditional Pakistani dishes especially prepared from meat and rice. They will also get to taste deserts and sweet dishes made from mangoes,” Hussain told Community. 
The best varieties of mangoes have been imported from Pakistan for the festival and visitors would get to relish their unique taste, the PQBF president added. 
Hussain said the festival will mainly focus on promoting Pakistani agro products such as meat, rice and fruits while providing a platform for the businessmen and exporters to interact with importers, business community in Qatar besides getting a chance to meet government officials.
“The rationale of holding the event that will revolve around demonstrating and promoting excellent quality and taste of Pakistani agro-food products is to create awareness amongst the stakeholders and importers,” said the PQBF president.
Exclusive kiosks will be established for holding Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings between prospective customers and exporters from Pakistan. The delegation from Pakistan, apart from the rice and mango exporters, includes Director General of TDAP, Chairman of Pakistan Business Council and President of The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI). The TDAP, formerly Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), was established in 2006 by the government of Pakistan and is administered by the Ministry of Commerce. 
TDAP is mandated to have a holistic view of global trade development rather than only the export promotion perspective of its predecessor. Designated as the premier trade organisation of the country, TDAP shall be a dedicated, effective, and an empowered organisation, which shall be professionally managed.
Hussain said the delegation was coming to Qatar on the invitation of PQBF. “On our visit to Pakistan, we had invited them to explore the market in Qatar that holds a huge potential for Pakistani products,” he added. The PQBF president said the leaders of the delegation will personally give briefings about their products to the guests and visiting dignitaries with the aim to attract potential buyers. The hosts of the festival have also invited members and leaders from different nationalities. 
Besides the heads of different local Pakistani welfare and community organisations, the PQBF has invited leaders from 18 different communities. “They will also have a chance to taste Pakistani food and mangoes at the dinner especially hosted for the community leaders at the venue,” said Hussain. The festival will then open for the general public tomorrow, and the PQBF president said the visiting members of public will also be treated with the traditional Pakistani food featuring the main three products of the festival. The Qatar-based PQBF has a number of Pakistani and Qatari companies as its members and it supports a ‘visionary approach’ towards promoting business, trade and investment between Pakistan and Qatar. Within few years, PQBF has developed close liaison with major trade and chamber associations, both in Pakistan and Qatar, willing to cash in on keenness expressed by the government of Pakistan for investments from Qatar.