Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi has called for adopting modern beekeeping
techniques and strengthening the capacity of honey producers by providing them advanced training
and skills to enhance the yield and quality of organic honey produced in Pakistan.

He said that the Government would encourage and facilitate bee keepers by providing them loans
under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Program in addition to imparting advanced training in training
institutes like NAVTTC and TEVTA. The President gave these remarks while chairing a follow-up
meeting on bee keeping and honey production, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. The meeting was attended by
President All Pakistan Bee Keepers and Honey Dealers Association (APBKHDA), Mr Naeem Qasmi,
Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan, Secretary of Forestry,
Environment and Wildlife Department of KPK, Mr Islam Zaib, Secretary Agriculture, Livestock,
Fisheries and Cooperative Department of KPK, Mr Muhammad Israr and other senior officials of the
Government of Pakistan.
Addressing the meeting, the President said that Pakistan had enormous
potential to be one of the largest producers of honey as its climate and vegetation were suited to
the production of premium quality honey. He underscored the need for strengthening and
improving the bee keeping sector as it had great potential to provide employment to the people as
well as earn foreign exchange. He expressed the hope that the Government’s Ten Billion Tree
Tsunami Program would help improve the beekeeping environment of the country to enhance the
production of quality honey. The President asked the relevant stakeholders to address the issues of
beekeeping sector enabling them to increase the production and exports of honey. He also asked
the stakeholders to initiate steps for facilitating and guiding the beekeepers by arranging training
courses and workshops for them.
Mr Naeem Qasmi briefed the meeting about the issues faced
by the beekeepers and highlighted the activities being undertaken by the association for the
promotion of Bee Keeping in Pakistan. The President assured the delegation of the Government’s
support to facilitate the bee keepers and provide them enabling environment. President APBKHDA
thanked the President for his deep interest and support in facilitating and encouraging the bee
keeping sector.