PANJGUR is known for its date trees. Apart from its fruit-bearing potential, the date tree provides beauty, fascinating landscape, and greenery to Panjgur. It is also a source of livelihood for the local people. Its leaves are utilised to make baskets, carpets and traditional Balochi slippers. Its branches are used to provide support to rooftops. Its ‘dead’ parts are used by the local people for cooking food and in lighting fire during winters. Besides, its juice, locally known as sheerag, is also extracted and used in a variety of ways.

Dates can be stored and frozen at low temperatures to be fit for consumption during the off-season. Date jams are also prepared to be used at breakfast. Sugar is also replaced with dates as a sweetening substance for sweet dishes for diabetic patients. One of its unique features is that the date tree uses very little water which makes it grow in large numbers. The most famous date of Panjgur is mozati, while others include rabia, juwan suhr, sabzo and kahrabah.

Unfortunately, the continuous lack of official interest in giving a boost to the local date industry has left the farmers in Panjgur rather dejected. The private sector has also stayed away, which means insufficient incentives for the date farmers.

Far away from modern and innovative farming techniques, Panjgur has witnessed a drastic decrease in date production. Apart from this, erratic and uncertain weather patterns unfolding due to the climate change phenomenon has only added to the problem.

Government’s intervention is needed to save and sustain the heritage and date industry of Panjgur. This will not only provide a sustainable income to the local people, but will also help them boost the national economy which is ailing currently.

Asma Qasim
Quetta

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2024