The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to establish three modern date processing plants in Pakistan as part of a new agricultural cooperation plan. According to the Ministry of National Food Security, this development will be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks.
The announcement came after a virtual meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and UAE officials, including Ms. Simisola Nicola Abere.
Under the agreement, the date processing plants will be built in Sindh and Balochistan, two provinces known for their high-quality date production. Once the MoU is signed, both sides will move quickly to begin implementation. The ministry’s secretary has been tasked with overseeing coordination and progress.
Pakistan is one of the world’s leading date producers, harvesting over 500,000 tonnes of dates annually across more than 100,000 hectares of farmland. The country currently earns over $50 million each year from date exports to international markets, including the UAE, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Türkiye.
During the meeting, Ms. Abere reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to accelerating the project’s operational phase under the broader bilateral cooperation framework. She emphasized that the UAE values Pakistan’s agricultural potential and aims to strengthen food trade and processing collaboration.
Experts believe that the new date processing plants in Pakistan will boost value-added exports, create job opportunities for local communities, and reduce post-harvest losses. The initiative is expected to modernize Pakistan’s date industry, helping farmers and producers meet international quality standards.
Dates, among the oldest cultivated fruits in the world, are highly valued for their sweetness, taste, and nutritional benefits. Rich in fiber, antioxidants, and natural sugars, they are considered a healthy energy source and an important part of diets across the Middle East and South Asia.
This partnership between Pakistan and the UAE marks another step toward enhancing agricultural cooperation and promoting sustainable food production.
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