Pakistani pavilion with 10 stalls features at SIAL exhibition in Toronto

A three-day exhibition is currently underway in Toronto, Canada, under the banner of SIAL, a global platform that promotes and sells food and agricultural products.

Pakistan is actively participating in the event, showcasing a range of locally produced items including rice, spices, and fruit juices at a dedicated pavilion comprising 10 stalls.

The Pakistani section has been set up in an exhibition hall located in a prominent area of Toronto, with support from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto, and other relevant organisations.

The aim is to promote exports and strengthen trade ties with countries like Canada.

Representatives of various private companies are present at their respective booths to promote and market their products. However, visitors noted the absence of any organised stall dedicated to Himalayan salt from Pakistan's Khewra mines in the US and Canada, which has become a lucrative product in these countries.

India, for years, has been buying this salt at low prices, processing it into powder and branding it as "Himalayan salt". Despite not having any Himalayan salt mines of its own, India sells the product at premium rates internationally, earning billions of dollars.

The salt is of particular interest to Jewish consumers in North America for religious and cultural reasons.

Speaking to Jang, Pakistan's Consul General in Toronto, Khalil Bajwa, said the exhibition provides an opportunity to showcase Pakistan's products and increase the existing annual trade volume with Canada, which currently stands at approximately $400 million.

According to Bajwa, the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan’s High Commission in Ottawa, and the Toronto Consulate have coordinated with private Pakistani businesses to establish the pavilion. However, a few stalls remained unmanned due to visa issues that prevented some exhibitors from entering Canada.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to Canada, Muhammad Saleem, also travelled from Ottawa to visit the pavilion and engage in meetings. He held discussions with officials from Global Affairs Canada regarding the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.