Pictured H.E. Moazzam Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
By Zohra Moazzam.
The Pakistani Embassy hosted a Mango festival at the hotel Hilton The Hague on the 4th of August, to celebrate the arrival of summer and the distinctly sweet Pakistani mangoes that come with it.
His Excellency Moazzam Ahmad Khan began the evening with a statement that… “Although several countries produce mangoes in the region, the ones from Pakistan possess an incomparable flavour with its high nutritional value and kills all bitterness within us.” He continued by adding that he may be biased, but challenged the guests to try the mangoes, since “ The proof of the Pudding is in the eating”.
Ever since the arrival of H.E. Moazzam Ahmad Khan to the Netherlands, he paid special attention to the promotion of trade and investment between the two countries. This event was also part of his “Food Diplomacy” which he has carried out through the years and through to his final embassy event as serving Ambassador to the Netherlands.
The evening was set with a blend of Pakistani Qawwali and Sufi music that created a lively atmosphere where guests were encouraged to try a bit of Pakistani culture from their music, food and mangoes.
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True to Pakistani hospitality, the plates of the guests were never empty and filled with the seasonal Sindhri Mangoes and the classic chicken and rice dish, Bhiryani, which was paired with a refreshing mango milkshake.
The Hall was filled with stalls of cartons that displayed fresh, yellow mangoes and informed guests of the variety and seasonal nature of the fruit which includes the Anwar Ratol, the Sindhri, the Chaunsa and the Dasheri.
With the mangoes only available in select local markets, it was not surprising that the festival attracted many members of the Diplomatic corps including Ambassadors from India, Iraq, Denmark, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Jordan, Chile, Iran, El Salvador, Venezuela and Portugal.
The festivities were also shared with members of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and local professionals with a history of relations with Pakistan, who all attested to the unique sweet flavours of the Pakistani mango.
