THE date-palm fruit, called simply ‘date’ is also known as ‘heavenly fruit” because of its mention in religious scriptures. Even otherwise, the fruit in known since ancient days.

The fruit is almost too sweat and very delicious in taste, so also it is a digestive and its use is considered as one of the best cures for many diseases. It contains rich carbohydrates, vitamins B and D, calcium, potassium, iron and other tonic ingredients. One of its special variety is known as “Ajjoa”.

Nowadays “dates” are increasingly used by bakeries in preparing sweats of different kinds and the fruit is grown in more than 40 countries of the world, including Pakistan, Iraq, Algiers, Saudi Arabia,Iran, America, Spain, Turkey, Nigeria, Bahrain, Palestine, Qatar, Yemen, UAE, Somalia and other tropical countries.

In Pakistan, date-palms are grown mostly in district Khairpur Mir where nearly 20,000 new date palm trees are planted every year and as per official data, a large area of 70,000 acres is covered with date-palm trees, through which the country earns over one billion rupees every year by exporting dates to India, Britain, Russia and several other countries. In Therhi town there are three date factories where more than 1500 women workers are employed.

There are several varieties of date-palm trees grown in this district.. Rains are the only danger for this crop and excess rains almost ruin the crop . Dates become fully ripe in the months of June and July and even upto August when almost 30,000 workers are seen busy taking care of the fruit at various stages.

The soaked dates (Shoonharas) are prepared from half- ripened dates (Dokkas) in an iron vessel (Karah), within which a chemical known as “Soda” is used.Later these dates are spread in open sunshine to get them dried.

When the President of Pakistan, General Perveiz Mushrraf visited India this year, he also met a a delegation of Indian traders who expressed their interest in importing dates. The Export Promotion Bureau arranges ‘dates exhibition” every year at Khairpur which is visited by a large number of traders.