Karachi: Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi Prof. Dr. Kamran Azim said that honey trade in Pakistan has reached around Rs1billion annually out of which fifty per cent earning is comes through its exports.
He said that for honey trade bees keeping has been now converted into an industry and millions of people are directly or indirectly attached with this trade. He said that quality wise Pakistani honey is understood one of the best throughout the world and 500 to 700 containers full of honey are being export every year to Gulf countries as a result we earn millions of dollars foreign exchange.
These views he expressed while he was addressing to a workshop on medical benefits of honey organized by Kohat University of science and technology. A large number of people involved in bees keeping trade and scientists attended the workshop. Dr. Kamran Azim told the participant of workshop that by using honey daily at breakfast, we may save ourselves from a number of diseases.
Addressing to the workshop, President, Pakistan Bees Keepers and Honey Dealers, Naeem Qasmi said that Turnab Farm Honey Market near Peshawar is one of the biggest markets of honey trade in the country. He said that Turnab Farm Market meet the honey demand of local and global market but our export is limited to Gulf countries markets.
He said that as per prevailing tension in Middle East countries our exports of honey have been badly affected and buyers are not available in Pakistani’s market. He said that we do not have access to European market because we have not signed any trade agreement with them.
Meanwhile, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, M.A. Jinnah University, Karachi Prof. Dr .Kamran Azim also visited Turnab Farm honey market at the end of workshop and reviewed the beekeeping system and its trade.
He also visited Agriculture Research Centre which was established in 1917.