From Dates to Destiny: Khairpur’s Evolution into Pakistan’s Largest Dates Market

#GrowthThroughStruggle

Pakistan is one of the top date producers and exporters in the world, with an annual date production of more than 600,000 tons. The Khairpur district is the main area in the Sindh Province where dates are cultivated using proper farming methods. In recent years, due to large-scale date production, Khairpur City has developed as the largest market for dates in Pakistan. However, the nearby city of Sukkur has a historical background dating back decades, serving as the largest market for both dry and wet dates.

Furthermore, the dates processing industry has also flourished since its inception, with the first venture initiated by the Lipton Company under the famous brand name TreeTop Dates in the early 1980s. Soon after, Lipton was acquired by UniLever (formerly Lever Brothers). The date growers were content with the multinational company, and a considerable number of people were employed in the dates processing plant. This influx of prosperity benefited both the growers and the local populace.

However, in the early 1990s, UniLever changed its business strategy. As a consequence, the TreeTop Dates Plant was closed, and the project was abandoned. This turn of events greatly upset the date growers, but local processors stepped in to fill the gap, utilizing the trained human resources that had been let go by the multinational company. After years of struggle, the local dates processing industry has developed in a self-sustainable manner.

Through collective efforts, Khairpur has now evolved into the largest dates market in Pakistan, and its growth continues day by day.

• Authored by Abdul Qayoom Memon – CEO GNS Pakistan