Pakistan is having dates with Saudi Arabia, that, too, 100 tons of that.
No, it’s not about cross-border match-making or a sudden demand for Pakistani men and women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It is about a gift to Pakistan.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reportedly gifted 100 tons of dates to Pakistan, ahead of the holy month of Ramzan.
Dates, because they are customary during the Ramzan fasting, when Muslims, after abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, break their fasts, usually having dates.
“In a gesture of goodwill, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is delighted to offer 100 tons of dates to its esteemed brethren in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, following the recommendation of the esteemed leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” said the official statement from the Saudi embassy in Islamabad.
“This generous donation is intended for distribution among the Pakistani community during the holy month of Ramadan,” the statement added.
The Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Maliki, and Abdullah Al-Baqami, Director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Center, officiated the handover ceremony at the Saudi embassy in Islamabad.
The gift symbolises the bond and friendship between the two nations, according to Saudi officials.
“This noble gesture exemplifies the enduring bond of friendship and brotherhood between the two nations, reflecting the spirit of generosity and solidarity cherished by both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,” the statement added.
Saudi Arabia is second-biggest producer of dates, growing 1.6 million tonnes a year, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation’s 2021 data. Egypt is the world’s top producer of dates, growing 1.7 million tonnes of the fruit.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share trade, defence and historical ties. Millions of Pakistani expatriates call the Kingdom home. While Pakistan relies on remittances from Saudi, the cash-strapped Islamic Republic is often seen seeking assistance from the Aranian giant.
Around half of Pakistan’s peak demand for dates is met by imports from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries, according to an Arab News report.
