The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to establish three modern date processing units in Pakistan as part of a new cooperation initiative. The project will be implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) soon to be signed between both countries, according to the Ministry of National Food Security.
The announcement followed a virtual meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and UAE officials, including Ms. Simisola Nicola Abere. Both sides agreed to accelerate the project’s implementation once the MoU is finalized. The ministry’s secretary has been assigned to oversee coordination and execution to ensure timely completion of the units.
Under the plan, the processing units will be built in Sindh and Balochistan, two provinces known for large-scale date production. These facilities are expected to modernize Pakistan’s date processing sector by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing the overall value of local production.
Pakistan currently produces over 500,000 tonnes of dates annually, grown across 100,000 hectares of farmland. The country earns around $50 million each year from date exports to international markets, including the UAE, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Türkiye.
According to Ms. Abere, the UAE is committed to fast-tracking the operational phase of the project. She said the new units will help strengthen bilateral trade and promote sustainable agricultural development between the two nations.
Dates are among the oldest cultivated fruits in the world, valued for their taste, sweetness, and health benefits. They are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and essential nutrients, making them a natural energy source and beneficial for digestion.
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Experts believe that the establishment of these modern units will boost Pakistan’s export potential, create employment opportunities, and help farmers achieve better prices through value-added processing.
