ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s export of honey to the high-end markets is far below its potential, said Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood on Friday in a meeting with a delegation of honey producers and exporters.

The country exported honey worth $6.9 million in 2018 and its major export destinations were Saudi Arabia (70.6 per cent), UAE (15.1pc) and Kuwait (6.3pc). According to an official statement issued afterwards, Pakistan is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna and produces 20 types of honey due to its varied ecological and climatic conditions.

Dawood underlined the current government is focusing on the diversification of export products through policy intervention by providing technical and financial support.

He further highlighted that in order to explore the untapped honey potential of the country, we need to acquaint the concerned stakeholders and business community of the honey-producing regions like Abbottabad with the modern production techniques and cluster development.

“For this, we need to train our stakeholders so they can comply with requisite standards and SPS requirements of high-end markets including EU which will increase our honey exports manifold,” he said.

Razak also directed that commerce ministry to constitute a product (honey) specific working group comprising of all stakeholders to devise a strategy to overcome the bottlenecks.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2019