Pakistan senger Mango Diplomatie

It’s August, the middle of the summer “silly season” when there’s a dearth of news with most politicians and newsmakers away on holiday, so journalists in London welcomed a rare treat. They were invited by Pakistan’s High Commission to a mango festival as part of a series of events to mark the country’s 62nd Independence Day. Assembled journalists at Asia House in London were offered a tantalizing selection of mango creations to taste: chicken and mango salad, spicy mango soup, light-as-a-feather mango cake, mango mousse and platefuls of succulent cubes of fresh mango.

As Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, remarked of mangoes,“ It is a fruit that towers at every feast – of the rich, the poor alike. In the 19th century the greatest Urdu/Persian poet, Mirza Ghalib, by extolling its tasteful qualities, its exotic aroma, its honey-sweetness immortalized it in his beautiful verses. He described it as the King of fruits.”

Et gi 1,300 Varietéit vu Mangoen a Pakistan. Slice et oder suckelt et - egal wéi e Mango schmaacht sublim. Gegessen mat engem Paratha, mécht et e komplette Miel. E Mango Lassi (Kurd Shake) moies bitt en Energie Boost fir Iech duerch den Dag ze gesinn. E Mango Zalot fir Mëttegiessen an en anert Glas Mango Shake amplaz vum Nomëtteg Téi wäerten Iech oppassen. Kommerziell Mangoe gi benotzt fir Glace, Squashen, Jusen, Chutneys, Pickelen, Mango Puree ze maachen an a Scheiwen am Sirop verkaaft ginn. An Dir musst net de ganze Wee a Pakistan reesen fir dës Delikatesse ze genéissen, si sinn einfach an de meeschte Liewensmëttelgeschäfter a Groussbritannien verfügbar.

According to Mr Hasan, mangoes are a special favorite with the Queen, a passion she shares with her son, Prince Charles. After learning of Her Majesty’s partiality to the fruit, the High Commissioner had mangoes sent to the Palace and to other important dignitaries. A few days later the High Commissioner attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

"Wéi ech un d'Kinnigin virgestallt ginn, huet Hir Majestéit mäin Dag gemaach wéi si sot, si wier ganz gär vu Mangoen a war ganz frou ze wëssen - fir d'éischte Kéier - datt Pakistan Top-Klass Mangoe produzéiert. Seng Royal Highness De Prënz Charles huet och verroden datt hien de Pulp ewechgeholl, gefruer a Glace fir seng Kanner gemaach huet. Et war den Ufank vun der Pakistan senger Mango Diplomatie.

Den Här Hasan erënnert un eng aner Geleeënheet nodeems hien just fir d'éischte Kéier am Joer 1994 zum Héichkommissär ernannt gouf. "Ech krut en Uruff vu mengem Premier Minister Martyred Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto op hirem Wee an Irland a gefrot wat hatt fir mech aus Pakistan sollt kréien. Well et den Ufank vun der Saison war, hunn ech 'Mango' gesot. Als e grousse Liebhaber vun der Fruucht selwer, wéi hire Fliger zu London gestoppt huet, hat et 200 Këschte mat de schéinste pakistanesche Mangoen.

Verschidde Journalisten, inklusiv ech selwer, waren d'Beneficiairë vun der Madame Bhutto senger Generositéit wéi si am Liewe war. All Summer géif op hir Instruktiounen eng Këscht mat leckere Mangoen aus Pakistan bei eis Dieren geliwwert ginn - en anert Beispill vu Mango Diplomatie an der Operatioun.

Undeterred by the challenges facing Pakistan today – the battle against the Taleban, political tension and the effects of the global economic squeeze – the government is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its Independence anniversary in London this year. Apart from the mango festival, several of Pakistan’s famous classical and pop singers took part in a special concert at Wembley arena on Sunday evening. Pakistan TV ran a Peace Telethon with an hour’s live contribution from London with British members of parliament and intellectuals taking part.

Amid the celebrations there was a sobering message from one of the UK’s leading Muslim youth organisations, the Ramadhan Foundation. Its Chief Executive, Mohammed Shafiq, urged Pakistan to reflect on its failings as well as celebrating Independence Day. But for journalists and others gathered at Asia House a taste of Pakistan’s mango diplomacy provided a refreshing break from the grim realities of everyday life and politics in the country.

Rita Payne is the current chair, Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK). She may be reached via the email addres: [Email geschützt]