Punjab's Mango Festival 2025: Celebrating Culture Amid Climate Challenges

LAHORE, Pakistan — The Punjab Tourism Department inaugurated the Mango Festival 2025 on June 23, 2025, at a prominent hotel in Lahore, showcasing over 50 varieties of one of the region's most cherished summer fruits. The two-day event attracted a diverse crowd, including tourists, farmers, agricultural experts, and professionals from the food and hospitality sectors. The festival featured a vibrant display of traditional dance, folk music, handicrafts, and a variety of mango-based culinary delights, highlighting the intertwining of agriculture, culture, and the culinary arts.

Provincial Tourism Secretary Fareed Ahmad Tarar and Dr. Nasir Mehmood, Managing Director of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), officially opened the festival. In his address, Tarar described the event as not only a celebration of mangoes but also a tribute to the dedication of farmers and the rich agricultural heritage of Punjab. Dr. Mehmood emphasized the festival's role as a platform for promoting tourism, hospitality, and local industries, in conjunction with agricultural practices.

Agricultural expert Rana Asif Hayat Tipu underscored the significance of accessibility to quality mangoes, stating that five tonnes of export-quality fruit were made available at farm-gate prices, addressing public concerns about the scarcity of high-grade mangoes in retail markets. However, he cautioned that the adverse effects of climate change—including extreme heat, dust storms, and water shortages—had severely impacted the current year's mango crop. According to Tipu, some areas have seen a troubling 40 percent decline in production due to these environmental challenges.

Historically, Pakistan produces approximately 1.8 million tonnes of mangoes annually, with Punjab accounting for 70 percent of the national output, followed by Sindh at 29 percent and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at about 1 percent. This year, the production forecast has dropped to around 1.4 million tonnes due to the adverse weather conditions. Despite this downturn, the government has set an ambitious export target of 125,000 tonnes for the season, aiming to generate $100 million in foreign exchange earnings. This target reflects the government's commitment to sustaining the mango export sector despite ongoing climate challenges.

The festival serves as a reminder of the importance of agriculture in Punjab's economy and cultural identity. Experts warn that without concerted efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the agricultural sector, particularly mango production, may face further challenges in the future. As the festival concludes, stakeholders are left to ponder the delicate balance between celebrating agricultural achievements and addressing the pressing issues posed by climate change.