ISLAMABAD: In a shift from traditional Middle Eastern markets, the first consignment of Sidr honey from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached Malaysia, reviving hopes that the province`s honey harvesting industry will get a boost in the coming months.

This new market opportunity is expected to boost KP`s beekeeping sector, which holds the second-highest export potential after carpet manufacturing, but growth has stagnated for the past many years due to several factors.

KP produces between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of honey annually, though only a fraction is exported, primarily to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. There has been no direct route for exporting honey to Europe, as most Pakistani honey is repackaged in Yemen and then sold under Yemeni brands in Europe and the United States.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal hailed the shipment of Sidr honey from Tarnab, KP, to Malaysia as a significant breakthrough, noting that this achievement could help position Pakistani agricultural products on the global stage.

According to a commerce ministry statement, the Pakistani High Commission in Kuala Lumpur played a key role in facilitating connections between Malaysian companies and Pakistani honey producers. The development comes after a deal was struck at the Second International Agriculture and Food Exhibition held in Karachi last August.

According to the All Pakistan Honeybee Exporters Association, KP is the country`s leading honey producer, supporting roughly 60,000 honey farms and employing around 1.6 million people.

However, the industry faces significant challenges.

The association has urged the government to grant the sector official industry status, which would exempt exporters from certain local taxes and open up access to other incentives.

Experts also recommend the establishment of bee clusters in the province and investment in processing facilities to meet international standards, as Pakistan currently loses billions due to a lack of export-ready facilities.

To increase honey exports, stakeholders have proposed forming a honey board that includes the association and the forest department.