Pakistan is the sixth largest producer of dates in the world, with a production capacity of 556,000 tonnes per year

ABU DHABI: The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP) has announced the start of commercial production at Dates Processing Factory in Panjgur, Balochistan at a cost of US$6.36 million, according to the UAE official news agency WAM.

Pakistan is the sixth largest producer of dates in the world, with a production capacity of 556,000 tonnes per year.

The project was built over an area of 5,710 square metres, adhering to the highest international specifications and standards, in terms of processing, packaging and the storing of dates.

It includes 15 production lines, has a production capacity of 4 tonnes per hour, or more than 32,000 tonnes per day, and contains refrigeration that can store up to 1,500 tonnes of ready-made dates.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) funded the project under the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP). Since 2013, total financing that Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) offered for projects in Pakistan reached US$220 million.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director of UAE PAP Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli said that the start of production at Panjgur dates processing factory coincides with the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan and the urgent need of Pakistani families for high quality dates as a main food item on their Iftar tables.

Al Ghafli hailed the support of the UAE’s leadership for the humanitarian programmes and developmental projects that his organisation is implementing in Pakistan, highlighting the UAE’s pioneering strategy in the field of humanitarian work.

Number of farmers in Balochistan expressed their happiness over the opening of Panjgur dates processing factory which will help them market their dates products.

They also thanked the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the support they showed at a difficult time of crises and hardship through the implementation of initiatives and development projects.

The project was carried out under the directives of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the support of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It comes within the framework of the continuous support of the UAE to Pakistan by implementing a number of humanitarian and development projects.