ISLAMABAD: As Chilghoza, pine nuts produced in Diamer region of Gilgit Baltistan are famous for its taste and high demand in the local and international market, the GB government would initiate a project of processing, packaging and value addition to get access to a good international market.
According to GB Information Minister Fathullah Khan, the project would facilitate hundreds of locals associated with the business to export their Chilghoza and have better livelihood. For the first time, a Chilghoza Festival was held in Chilas, Diamer where various varieties of the dry fruit “king” were displayed. The regional government has announced to hold the event as a calendar year to boost the production and business of high valued Chilghoza.
Fathullah Khan, who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Planning and Development, said that India was earning good revenue from export of Chilghoza, which also ensures the protection of forests. The people of Diamar in GB are getting substantial benefits from this product. With the support of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, a project is being initiated to facilitate production of the product at large scale.
Making possible the access of Chalghoza to the international market will promote economic activities in remote areas like Diamar.
According to officials, in collaboration with district administration, AKRSP and forest department, Chilgoza Exhibition 2022 was held on October 29, 2022 in Chilas. Senior Minister GB Raja Zakaria Muhammad Khan Moqpoon, Information Technology Muhammad Ali Quaid, Secretary Forests Faisal Ehsan Pirzada, Additional Secretary Forests Azimullah, Deputy Commissioner Diamar Fayyaz Ahmed, Conservator Forest Aftab Mahmood and other had attended the event.
As per a report China was the major importer of Chilghoza from Pakistan which last year had imported $17.67 million worth of Pakistani Chilgoza pine nuts in April 2022 which was a record high.
China is the second largest consumer of pine nuts. China was one of the primary markets for pine nuts imported from Pakistan in the first two months of 2022, importing 1,606.51 tons worth $17.67 million. China has imported $42.35 million worth of pine nuts, with Pakistan accounting for 42% of the total.
In the Chinese market, Pakistani pine nuts are also facing fierce competition from Afghanistan. In the first two months of this year, China purchased 201.2 tons of pine nuts for $2.82 million from Afghanistan, bringing total imports to 5,722 tons worth $42.35 million.
Around 20 percent of Pakistan’s forests consist of chilgoza trees, with the country producing 15 percent of the world’s total pine nuts at between 3,500 to 4,000 metric tons annually. However, most of these are exported to the Middle East, China, the US, UK and Europe. Diamer in GB is one of the country’s main production regions for pine nuts.
Pine nut trees are found in Pakistan’s north and southwestern provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including in the northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. The tree is hard and tall, and can endure excessive drought, high winds, and severe cold in the winter.
Pine-nut harvesting begins in September. Locals collect the green cones from trees and spread them under the open sky to let them dry in the sun for more than two weeks. Each cone contains between 15 to 20 pine nuts depending on its size. It is then processed through a machine for quality grading before being sold in the market, with the nuts usually eaten raw or roasted.
