A Pakistani food and mango festival currently under way in Riyadh is giving the residents an opportunity to enjoy the country’s cuisine prepared with authentic spices and traditional flavors.

The festival was jointly inaugurated by Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Aiban, adviser to the commerce minister, and Pakistani Ambassador Muhammed Naeem Khan, at the InterContinental Hotel in Riyadh on Wednesday night.

"The Pakistan embassy has organized this three-day festival as part of its continued efforts to promote commercial relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan," said Waseem Hayat Bajwa, commercial attache at the Embassy of Pakistan.

An exhibition of Pakistani products on the sidelines of the festival added color and splendor to the opening ceremony.

After the inaugural ceremony, about 250-odd guests, including a large number of diplomats and their wives, were treated to a variety of exotic Pakistani delicacies.

Bajwa underscored the importance of organizing cultural events by the embassy to further strengthen the growing relations. He added that the food festival features a large variety of Pakistani dishes as well as products, which will eventually help to boost trade in the food sector.

In fact, the overall food exports of Pakistan increased by 4.82 percent last year compared to the same period a year before. The major food items, which recorded increase in their exports, include sugar, meat and meat preparations, fish, vegetables, spices, oil seeds, nuts, kernels, fruits, pulses, and wheat. On the other hand, the Pakistani cuisine that were displayed and served to guests had a mix of spicy, sweet, sour and aromatics.

Meat dishes were plenty at the festival besides varieties of mangoes. The festival will go long way in promoting Pakistani mangoes this year.

Mehran Rice and Spices, Qarshi Group, Queensway, Saleh & Abdulaziz Abahusain, Alkhobaib, Mitchels, Global Mentor Technologies, Mobily and Enjaz Bank were among the event’s supporters.