Pakistan produces over 500,000 tons of dates every year, making it the fifth-largest date-producing country in the world, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). All four provinces Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grow dates, with Sindh being the biggest contributor. Balochistan comes next, followed by Punjab and KP.
The country is home to more than 150 different types of dates, and around 82,000 hectares of land are used for date farming. Despite this wide variety and large-scale production, Pakistan’s date exports remain limited. Experts from the Date Palm Research Institute shared that Pakistan currently exports dates to only 23 countries, with India being the largest buyer.
This means that a huge part of Pakistan’s date-producing potential is not being fully used. The country could do much better in the international market if efforts are made to explore new buyers and trading partners around the world.
Experts believe that increasing exports of dates could help Pakistan earn more foreign exchange and bring much-needed support to the national economy. By improving packaging, storage, quality control, and branding, Pakistan can make its mark in global markets.
Farmers, exporters, and government agencies must work together to unlock this opportunity. With proper planning and investment, Pakistan’s date industry could grow significantly and bring greater economic stability to the agricultural sector.
