PESHAWAR: The business community here has demanded of the government to give facilities to beekeepers so as to increase honey export to other countries and overcome joblessness in the country.

The demand was made by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz at a meeting with the representatives of All Pakistan Beekeepers Exporters and Honey Traders Association, led by its president Saleem Khan, at the Chamber’s House, according to a press release issued here on Friday.

The chamber chief said that beekeeping had emerged as a sector with the second biggest export potential, but honey harvesting business was on decline in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa owing to lack of facilities for the beekeepers.

He stressed the need for organising proper training for beekeepers, easiness in issuance of the permit and creating awareness of packing and quality control so that they could export honey products in an efficient manner.

SCCI vice-president Abdul Jalil Jan, the association office-bearers and exporters, including Sher Zaman, Gul Badshah, Haji Israrullah, Abdul Rehman and Anwar Shah, were also attended the meeting.

Mr Pervaiz said that SCCI had planned to set up a business facilitation centre to resolve issues of the community under one roof.

He said the business community’s reservations about property tax had been discussed with the officials concerned.

He said that honey sector was vital for the country’s economy so there was a need to resolve issues of beekeepers to give boost to honey export.

On this occasion, Saleem Khan apprised the meeting of impediments and issues of the community.

He appreciated the chamber’s president for assuring them of efforts for establishing a training centre for beekeepers, providing one-time grant and curbing deforestation for increasing honey production and export.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019