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.
