Pakistan’s honey exports have reached approximately $15 million per year, reflecting steady growth driven by modern beekeeping practices, improved production systems, and rising demand for premium honey varieties.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Dr. Muhammad Khalid Rafiq, Senior Scientific Officer at the Honey Bee Research Institute (HBRI), Pakistan has developed a strong foundation for a competitive honey industry. He highlighted that continuous research, colony multiplication, improved queen breeding, pest control measures, and quality assurance systems have significantly strengthened the sector.
Pakistan currently maintains around 1.5 million colonies of Apis mellifera, a high-yielding western honeybee species. These colonies produce between 25,000 and 30,000 metric tonnes of honey annually. Out of this production, nearly 8,000 to 10,000 metric tonnes are exported, generating close to $15 million in foreign exchange.
The majority of Pakistan’s honey exports are directed towards Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Among export products, premium Sidr honey remains the most sought-after due to its high value and quality.
Growth of Pakistan’s Honey Industry
Pakistan’s organized beekeeping sector began in 1979 at the National Agricultural Research Centre under the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Before that, the country relied on imported honey due to low productivity from indigenous bee species.
The introduction of Apis mellifera, along with structured colony multiplication and beekeeper training programs, transformed the sector. Over time, HBRI introduced modern hive management techniques, advanced queen breeding systems, laboratory testing facilities, and migratory beekeeping models. These developments have helped train thousands of beekeepers nationwide and significantly improve productivity.
Environmental Challenges Impacting Production
Despite progress, Pakistan’s honey industry faces serious environmental challenges. Deforestation, climate change, and unpredictable weather patterns are shortening flowering cycles, reducing nectar availability, and directly affecting honey yields.
Traditional floral sources such as Sheesham, Malta, Bekhar, Pulai, and Granda are now blooming for shorter periods. This shift has created uncertainty in production and increased dependence on migratory beekeeping.
Rising temperatures and frequent flooding have forced beekeepers to relocate colonies to cooler regions such as Gilgit during peak summer months. While this strategy helps sustain production, it significantly increases operational costs and risks, including colony losses.
Focus on High-Value Honey Varieties
To improve profitability, stakeholders are promoting branded, single-flower honey varieties such as Sidr, Acacia, and Mustard honey. These premium products are gaining strong demand in both domestic and international markets, helping enhance export value.
Policy Support and Future Outlook
HBRI has proposed several policy measures to support the sector. These include integrating bee-friendly plants into urban landscaping, housing schemes, and plantation drives. Efforts are also underway to expand Sidr and Acacia plantations across different ecological zones to restore nectar sources and stabilize production.
Capacity building remains a key priority. Nationwide training programs are encouraging new entrants, including women and young entrepreneurs, to join the sector. This approach is making the honey industry more inclusive, sustainable, and economically viable.
With continued policy support, environmental management, and market development, Pakistan’s honey sector is well-positioned to expand its global footprint in the coming years.