By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the establishment of the modern beeswax foundation sheet manufacturing unit marks an important milestone in the development of Pakistan’s beekeeping industry.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan’s first high-tech automatic Beeswax Foundation Sheet Manufacturing Unit at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), the minister said that the honeybees play a vital role not only in honey production but also in crop pollination, agricultural productivity and national food security.
The state-of-the-art facility has been established at the Honeybee Research Institute to modernize Pakistan’s beekeeping sector, promote local production of high-quality beeswax foundation sheets and improve beekeepers’ access to advanced technology.
The minister said that the new automated unit would facilitate local beekeepers by ensuring access to quality beeswax foundation sheets, thereby contributing to improved honey production and quality. He stressed the importance of extending modern technology and scientific beekeeping practices to beekeepers across the country, particularly small-scale entrepreneurs and young people.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said that Pakistan possesses significant potential for producing diverse varieties of high-quality honey.
He emphasized that, alongside increasing production, greater attention must be paid to quality assurance, certification, traceability, value addition, modern packaging and effective marketing to fully capitalize on this potential.
He further stated that Pakistani honey needs to be promoted more effectively in international markets. Expanding access to high-value markets, including Europe, Japan and North America, should remain a key objective. Improved quality and value addition can help increase honey exports while enhancing the incomes of farmers, beekeepers and businesses associated with the sector.
The Federal Minister encouraged young people to consider beekeeping as a modern and emerging agribusiness opportunity. He said that access to advanced technology, research, training and markets could enable the beekeeping sector to generate new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.
Highlighting Pakistan–Türkiye cooperation, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that relations between the two brotherly countries are founded on mutual respect, trust and longstanding friendship. He appreciated the valuable contribution and support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) to Pakistan’s agriculture and rural development sectors.
The Federal Minister said that cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye would be further strengthened in agricultural research, modern technology, beekeeping and rural development.
He expressed confidence that the high-tech Beeswax Foundation Sheet Manufacturing Unit would play an important role in modernizing Pakistan’s beekeeping industry, strengthening domestic capacity and enhancing the competitiveness of Pakistani honey in international markets.
During the ceremony, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain formally inaugurated the high-tech automatic Beeswax Foundation Sheet Manufacturing Unit. He also visited different sections of the facility and received a detailed briefing on the modern machinery installed at the unit and the process involved in manufacturing beeswax foundation sheets.
