As the Pakistan government steps up the repatriation of Afghan citizens residing in the country, one sector is concerned the exodus will create a shortage of workers who specialize in a very delicate skill — beekeeping.
According to the exporters of honey, up to 50% of the workforce in Pakistan’s honey sector consists of Afghan nationals.
These Afghans are not only laborers but custodians of the craft, which takes years to master.
From tracking wild hives deep in the forests to becoming an expert at extraction techniques, it takes beekeepers years to master their craft, and this toil and attention to detail, experts say, sweetens the flavor of the honey.
According to exporters, the over 47 years of experience of Afghan beekeepers — in understanding the temperament of bees and managing hives through shifting seasons — is deeply embedded in the sweetness of Pakistani honey.
They caution the return of these skilled workers to Afghanistan could severely disrupt domestic production.
The association of honey exporters has submitted a list of 1,000 Afghan experts to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the government to grant them work visas so they can continue working in Pakistan and transfer their skills to local workers, according to the association.
Along with the loss of skilled workers, Pakistan’s beekeeping sector faces the challenge of climate change which has made weather patterns erratic. Since 2022, however, Pakistan’s honey production has dropped 15%, according to the government’s Honey Bee Research Institute in Islamabad.
Exporters report that last year Pakistan exported 4.5 million kilograms of honey at an average price of PKR 2,200 per kg. More than 60% of the exports came from the northwestern province of Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistani Acacia honey exporters say trade disruptions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have already caused significant losses, as the country was the largest market for the premium variety of Pakistani honey.
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