As Pakistani mangoes made their way to Chicago with their unique fragrance and sweet flavour, the country’s ambassador to the United States voiced hope that export of the king of fruits will help bolster trade and broader bilateral relations between the two nations. Ambassador Husain Haqqani traveled to Chicago to introduce mangoes from the first Pakistani shipment that landed here on Friday. “We have successfully completed the process which involved a lot of stages we went about methodically, identifying various steps to make this push for mango export to the US see light of the day,” Haqqani said, referring to the two-year process that enabled export of fruit from Pakistan to the United States. National Assembly Member Farahnaz Ispahani, Pakistani consul generals, Pakistani-American businessmen and Chicago residents attended the event. The event exhibited how mangoes can be used in various recipes, drinks, salads, ice creams and attracted a large number of Chicagoans including Pakistani-Americans. The Pakistani envoy said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani particularly wanted to introduce and spur commerce of the popular fruit, which can symbolise improvement and expansion in Pakistan-US relations, the ambassador noted. Speaking metaphorically, the ambassador said problems between the two countries in the larger perspective could also be solved if “we identify problems and look for their solution in an organised and persistent manner.” Americans consume mangoes worth over $250 million every year and the country holds immense promise for Pakistani exporters. Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, welcomed the arrival of Pakisani mangoes to Chicago and said the fruit will introduce Pakistan to Americans and will help promote understanding between people of the two countries.
