KARACHI, Jul 30 (APP):First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Thursday graced the Mango Diplomacy Festival 2026 as the chief guest at a ceremony held at a local hotel. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah attended the event and welcomed the First Lady on her arrival. The festival, organised by the Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (FALO), Karachi, brought together members of the diplomatic corps, consuls general, honorary consuls, government officials, …
First Lady Aseefa graces Mango diplomacy festival to promote cultural, economic ties
KARACHI, Jul 30 (APP):First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Thursday graced the Mango Diplomacy Festival 2026 as the chief guest at a ceremony held at a local hotel.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah attended the event and welcomed the First Lady on her arrival.
The festival, organised by the Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (FALO), Karachi, brought together members of the diplomatic corps, consuls general, honorary consuls, government officials, business leaders and other distinguished guests to celebrate Pakistan’s renowned mango varieties and promote cultural and economic diplomacy.
Addressing the gathering, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the Mango Diplomacy Festival had become an important feature of Karachi’s diplomatic calendar, fostering goodwill and strengthening ties among the diplomatic community, government institutions and the business sector.
Welcoming First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, he said her presence had added distinction to the event, adding that through her engagements at home and abroad she had represented Pakistan with dignity while advocating greater participation of women and youth in national development.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appreciated Additional Foreign Secretary Muhammad Khalid Jamali and DG FALO Muhammad Irfan Soomro for their efforts in promoting economic and cultural diplomacy.
He said FALO Karachi had played an important role in strengthening engagement with the diplomatic community, facilitating businesses and projecting Sindh as a hub of trade, investment and international cooperation.
Highlighting Sindh’s agricultural potential, Murad Ali Shah said the province’s fertile lands had sustained civilisations for centuries and continued to produce world-class agricultural commodities.
He said Pakistan was among the world’s leading mango-producing countries, while Sindh was renowned for premium varieties, particularly the Sindhri mango, which enjoyed international recognition for its sweetness and flavour.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to promote Pakistan’s agricultural products in global markets as part of an export-led growth strategy, adding that events such as the Mango Diplomacy Festival and the Diplomatic Bazaar helped strengthen people-to-people contacts and showcased the country’s rich cultural heritage.
He also said the establishment of the Foreign Affairs Liaison Office in Karachi was part of reforms introduced by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during his tenure as foreign minister to enhance engagement between the diplomatic community, the provincial government and the business sector.
As the chief guest, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari distributed commemorative shields among participants in recognition of their contributions and cut a ceremonial cake to mark the success of the Mango Diplomacy Festival 2026.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was received at the venue by Director General FALO Karachi Muhammad Irfan Soomro.
