The participants of a meeting here on Wednesday agreed to take steps for promoting the honey business and beekeeping in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to formally recognize honey processing, packaging, and value addition as an industry.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Industries and Commerce, Abdul Karim, said a handout. The meeting was attended by Secretary Industries, Commerce and Technical Education Department Amir Afaaq, Special Secretary Anwar Khan, Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) Habibullah Arif, Chief Planning Officer Basit Khalil, Project Director of Beekeeping and Honey Sector at the Department of Science and Technology Nadia Khan, Deputy Manager of the KPBOIT Gul Mohammad, Deputy MD SIDB Nauman Fayaz, representatives of SMEDA, and officials from the Beekeeping Association including Sher Zaman Mohmand, Gul Badshah and others.

Several proposals from the Beekeeping Association were discussed and the forum assured its cooperation. Stakeholders presented their views on the development of beekeeping businesses at the local level, and the packaging, value addition, and other aspects of honey production to develop this sector.

The issues raised by the representatives of the business sector were also discussed in the meeting. In the briefing provided by the Project Director of the “Bees and Honey Sector” from the Department of Science and Technology, it was highlighted that Pakistan exports $8.3 million worth of export annually from this sector, with around 1 million people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa directly and indirectly employed in this business. Furthermore, approximately 20,000 individuals in the province are registered in the honey business.

The representatives from the Beekeeping Association informed the meeting that the single district of Karak generates an annual business of 6 billion rupees from this sector, and prioritizing it will further develop this industry in the province.

It was decided in the meeting that a joint meeting of all concerned institutions and departments would be held on January 13 to develop a comprehensive plan for further action, covering all areas of responsibility. The participants directed SIDB to conduct a feasibility study for honey value addition and related requirements.

Additionally, it was assured that an expo on honey would be organized in Peshawar.The meeting also showed readiness to develop modules for training beekeepers in various trades and provide training through technical institutions under the Department of Industry. The special assistant said beekeeping and the honey business were uniquely significant production sectors for the province, holding an important place in the country.