TİKA Supports Modern Beekeeping in Pakistan with the Country’s First Modern Wax Foundation Sheet Production Unit

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a modern beeswax foundation sheet production unit at the Honey Bee Research Institute (HBRI) of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), operating under the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

Traditional manual production methods commonly used in Pakistan’s beekeeping sector often result in non-standard and unhygienic wax foundations, leading to lower productivity and increased risks of diseases within bee colonies. The newly established facility, with a production capacity of 450 wax foundation sheets per hour, is the first modern unit of its kind in Pakistan.

Established with Turkish technology, the facility aims to improve beekeepers’ access to hygienic, standardized, and high-quality wax foundations, thereby increasing honey production efficiency, reducing disease risks, and lowering production costs.

Through the project, Türkiye’s technical expertise and know-how in beekeeping technologies have also been shared with Pakistan. Following the introduction of Turkish-style beehives in previous years, the modern Turkish-type wax foundation production system has now also been introduced to Pakistan’s beekeeping sector.

Since 2017, TİKA and HBRI-NARC have been cooperating closely through training programs, technology transfer initiatives, and capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s beekeeping ecosystem.

The project also highlights the crucial role of bees not only in honey production but also in agricultural productivity, biodiversity, pollination, and the protection of ecological balance. In this regard, the initiative is expected to contribute to sustainable rural development in Pakistan.

On the occasion of World Bee Day, celebrated on 20 May, TİKA also released a short documentary film highlighting the project and the ongoing cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan in the field of beekeeping.