The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Engineer Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz has urged the government to take pragmatic measures to remove hurdles in the export of honey and to provide adequate facilities to beekeepers.
The SCCI chief said beekeeping has emerged as the sector with the second great export potential, but the honey harvesting business is on a steep decline in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa owing to lack of facilities provided by both the provincial and federal governments.
He stressed the need for organizing proper training for beekeepers, easiness in the issuance of the permit, awareness about bottle packing and quality control. He also urged the government to support and guide beekeepers to have better access to export honey products in the international market in an efficient manner.
Engr Maqsood Pervaiz was talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Beekeepers Exporters and Honey Traders Association, led by its president Saleem Khan at the chamber house here on Thursday.
SCCI Vice president, Abdul Jalil Jan, Saddar Gul, the association office bearers, Sher Zaman, Gul Badshah, exporters, Haji Israrullah, Naseem, Abdul Rehman and Syed Anwar Shah were present in the meeting.
The Chamber president informed that SCCI has planned to set up a Business Facilitation Centre, which would facilitate the business community to resolve their issues under one roof. He said the business community reservations regarding property tax had discussed with officials concerned, through which they have received the positive outcome that could be minimized difficulties of the community at an optimal level. He vowed the SCCI will continue its efforts to resolve the issues of the business community on a priority basis.
SCCI chief said the honey sector is the backbone for the country’s economy, so there was a need to take resolve the issues of beekeepers to give a further boost to honey export. On the occasion, the beekeepers association president, Saleem apprised the meeting about impediments and issues of the community.
Engr Maqsood Pervaiz assured the beekeepers that the SCCI would continue its efforts to resolve longstanding issues of the business community. Saleem Khan, the association president thanked the chamber president for assuring them to make efforts to establish a training centre for beekeepers, enhancement of honey export, one-time grant, elimination of mushroom deforestation, property and double taxes issue.
