Why Pakistan Imports Premium Flowers While Neighbors Export: Time to Scale Up Floriculture
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Pakistan's floriculture sector holds immense promise with its diverse climates and strong domestic demand from weddings, events, and cultural traditions. Yet it remains underdeveloped—fragmented, small-scale, and heavily reliant on imports for premium and off-season varieties—while neighbors like India and Iran have built robust, export-oriented industries.Regional Benchmarks
India leads with floriculture cultivated across ~317,000 hectares (2023-24), producing ~877,000 tonnes of cut flowers annually and exports reaching $88.58 million in 2024-25. Government support through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) provides subsidies often 50% or higher (up to significant amounts for protected cultivation, infrastructure, and planting material), enabling large-scale growth and quality improvements.Iran produces over 4.3 billion flowers and ornamental plants annually across more than 8,000 hectares, supported by broad agricultural subsidies (subsidized inputs, guaranteed purchases, and infrastructure) that sustain expansion despite challenges.Pakistan's Landscape
Local production centers like Pattoki (near Lahore) focus on roses, where high-quality stems are produced at low costs—typically 3-10 PKR per stem (season-dependent). Roses occupy nearly 5,000 acres in the region, reflecting efficient conditions and low overheads. Overall, Pakistan produces an estimated 10-12 thousand tonnes of floricultural products annually on ~6,880 hectares.Premium varieties (A-grade roses, orchids, lilies, high-grade gypsophila, chrysanthemums, carnations) are imported, with 2023 fresh cut flower imports totaling $539,000 (~133,268 kg), primarily from Kenya (89%) and Malaysia (10%). In urban markets like Karachi and Lahore, imported stems retail at 200-250 PKR or more per stem, creating a 20-50 times price gap versus local equivalents. From my sourcing experience in Quetta, weekly import values during peak seasons often exceed 10 million PKR, confirming robust demand from retailers, event planners, and consumers.Positive developments include producers like Agri Flora (near Lahore) expanding resilient varieties (sunflowers, asters, chrysanthemums, stock, gerbera, amaranthus, birds of paradise, some gypsophila) and northern trials of local lilies in Mansehra. Imports persist for sensitive items, as importers prioritize affordable mid-range options aligned with local purchasing power.Moving Forward: Recommended Steps
To reduce import dependence, lower costs, create jobs, and unlock exports, Pakistan needs targeted action:
By Hassan Raza
Co-Founder & Operator, Beri Damad | Quetta, Balochistan
IBA Karachi Graduate (Business Administration, 2021) January 10, 2026
India leads with floriculture cultivated across ~317,000 hectares (2023-24), producing ~877,000 tonnes of cut flowers annually and exports reaching $88.58 million in 2024-25. Government support through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) provides subsidies often 50% or higher (up to significant amounts for protected cultivation, infrastructure, and planting material), enabling large-scale growth and quality improvements.Iran produces over 4.3 billion flowers and ornamental plants annually across more than 8,000 hectares, supported by broad agricultural subsidies (subsidized inputs, guaranteed purchases, and infrastructure) that sustain expansion despite challenges.Pakistan's Landscape
Local production centers like Pattoki (near Lahore) focus on roses, where high-quality stems are produced at low costs—typically 3-10 PKR per stem (season-dependent). Roses occupy nearly 5,000 acres in the region, reflecting efficient conditions and low overheads. Overall, Pakistan produces an estimated 10-12 thousand tonnes of floricultural products annually on ~6,880 hectares.Premium varieties (A-grade roses, orchids, lilies, high-grade gypsophila, chrysanthemums, carnations) are imported, with 2023 fresh cut flower imports totaling $539,000 (~133,268 kg), primarily from Kenya (89%) and Malaysia (10%). In urban markets like Karachi and Lahore, imported stems retail at 200-250 PKR or more per stem, creating a 20-50 times price gap versus local equivalents. From my sourcing experience in Quetta, weekly import values during peak seasons often exceed 10 million PKR, confirming robust demand from retailers, event planners, and consumers.Positive developments include producers like Agri Flora (near Lahore) expanding resilient varieties (sunflowers, asters, chrysanthemums, stock, gerbera, amaranthus, birds of paradise, some gypsophila) and northern trials of local lilies in Mansehra. Imports persist for sensitive items, as importers prioritize affordable mid-range options aligned with local purchasing power.Moving Forward: Recommended Steps
To reduce import dependence, lower costs, create jobs, and unlock exports, Pakistan needs targeted action:
- Policy and Incentives — Integrate floriculture into national strategies with subsidies (inspired by MIDH) for protected cultivation, cold chains, and elite planting material; provide tax incentives and credit for large-scale farms.
- Infrastructure — Build refrigerated storage, efficient transport, and pre-cooling via public-private partnerships to cut post-harvest losses.
- Capacity Building — Strengthen extension services, training in modern agronomy, and climate-resilient varieties/precision techniques.
- Market Development — Standardize quality (e.g., GlobalGAP certification), create dedicated markets, and promote value addition (essential oils, dried flowers) for sustainable exports.
- Sustainability — Prioritize water-efficient methods in a water-stressed nation.
By Hassan Raza
Co-Founder & Operator, Beri Damad | Quetta, Balochistan
IBA Karachi Graduate (Business Administration, 2021) January 10, 2026