PESHAWAR: Peshawar’s Tarnab Farm is home to Pakistan’s biggest honey market, which exports about 4,000 tons of the commodity worth nearly Rs 2.8 billion ($0.023 billion) to Arab countries every year.
Senior Vice President of the All Pakistan Beekeepers Exporters and Honey Traders Association, Sheikh Gul Bacha, told Arab News on Sunday that about 200 containers, each carrying about 20 tons of honey, are exported to various Arab states, mostly to Saudi Arabia.
“We export bair (jujube) honey, which is produced in September and October, to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries in huge quantities. Most people in that region like the product since it does not solidify. Arabs also use honey more frequently because Islamic teachings emphasize its medicinal properties,” he added.
Hajji Nauroz Khan, a honey trader, claimed that while the Arab countries also imported the commodity from other parts of the world, most of their residents preferred honey produced in Pakistan because of its superior quality and taste.
“The honey produced in this country is pure. Arabs like bair honey, and Pakistan supplies it in its purest form. Other countries produce a mix of bair and other plants,” he said.
Khan also informed that honey produced in Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Sindh and Balochistan was also brought to the Tarnab Farm market for sale.
“Although honey is also produced in other parts of the country, nearly 85 percent of the people associated with this business are Pashtuns.”
He recalled how the Tarnab Farm market was initially set up with the funding of international donor organizations that were working for Afghan refugees who had migrated to Peshawar after the Soviet invasion of their country. Back then, the market could boast only of a few shops. However, the business expanded and there are hundreds of shops in this vicinity now.
Talking to Arab News, Sher Zaman, a honey exporter, said the government should also help honey traders to export their product to Central Asian markets.
“We don’t have a proper market in Central Asia,” he said. “This is despite the fact that our palusa (rosemary) honey can make a huge impact in the region. This variety of honey is usually people’s first choice in cold countries.”
Zaman said there were four main kinds of honey sold in the market: “bair honey, orange honey, palusa honey and clover honey.” The types of honey varied since honeybees gathered nectar from a variety of different plants in different parts of the country.
Assistant Director of the Trade Development Authority, Zahid Khan, told Arab News that his department periodically organizes workshops and exhibitions for the promotion of local products. “We are not responsible for regulating the honey business,” he added, “but we facilitate the traders.”
He pointed out that the honey business was owned and operated mostly by Afghans, adding: “The ongoing repatriation of Afghans to their native land has also affected this trade in Pakistan. However, local traders have now taken control of the situation and stabilized the honey business.”
Peshawar’s honey market sweetens the lives of millions in the Arab world
Peshawar’s honey market sweetens the lives of millions in the Arab world
- Every year, the market exports honey worth Rs 2.8 billion to Arab countries
- Exporters claim the honey produced in Pakistan is preferred by people in the Middle East because of its taste and quality
Where We Are Going Today: The Door – international cuisines in Riyadh
- The seafood spaghetti, made with a tomato base, mussels and shrimp, was the only dish left unfinished and did not land as well
Tucked between a corporate office building and a coffee shop, The Door reveals itself through an open window, framed flowers, candles and fairy lights. Peek inside and you are transported into a charming slice of the past.
The Door is a chic-casual restaurant offering a blend of international cuisines. It stands out in Riyadh’s dining scene for its flavors, reasonable prices and bistro-style atmosphere.
We started with the glazed shrimp, coated in smoked maple sauce. The dish was good but unremarkable, unlike the tahini cauliflower, which was fried perfectly and served with a rich tahini sauce, though the pieces were cut too small to eat easily with a fork.
For mains, the steak with mushroom sauce was cooked to perfection, and the lemon garlic spaghetti was creamy with a bright, zesty finish.
The seafood spaghetti, made with a tomato base, mussels and shrimp, was the only dish left unfinished and did not land as well. The shrimp tacos — recently added to the menu — were a pleasant surprise, blending Mexican and Asian influences with sweet chili sauce, shimeji mushrooms and baby corn.
We ended the meal with the dream parfait: strawberries in mango cream served with creme caramel. All I can say is, you simply cannot go wrong with strawberries and cream.
What truly elevates the experience is the ambience. Reminiscent of cozy European cafes, its low lighting, rustic decor and homey details create a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.
The wood-paneled interior is dotted with retro iron fans, flower-glass lights, handwritten notes, vintage frames, Polaroids and cascading lace curtains — small discoveries that make the space feel intimate and lived-in.
The Door is great for a casual night out with friends or a partner, especially if you are budget-conscious.
The only drawback is the limited seating. While walk-ins are welcome, joining the waitlist ahead of time is wise, as waiting times can be long even on weekdays.
