Pakistan Edition

Pakistan's Plate Without Bees

Six iconic Pakistani dishes. Over 300 native bee species. What vanishes from the plate when the pollinators disappear.

Pakistan is home to more than 300 bee species, including Apis cerana and the giant honeybee Apis dorsata. Pakistani cuisine is built on tomatoes, onions, coriander, and lemon - all significantly pollinator-dependent. Pakistan is also one of the world's largest mango producers, with the Sindhri, Chaunsa, and Langra varieties of Sindh considered among the finest mangoes in the world. Without pollinators, an estimated 75% of globally important food crop species cannot produce fruit, seed, or viable harvest. This tool shows what that means for six iconic Pakistani dishes. Select a dish, then remove the bees.

Source: Klein et al. (2007), Dependence of World Crops on Pollinators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 274(1608), 303-313. Dependency categories: Essential 95%, High 65%, Modest 25%, Little 5%, None 0%.

Key Takeaways

87 of the world's leading food crops depend on animal pollination to some degree (Klein et al., 2007)
Without bees, a Pakistani Karahi loses its tomatoes, red peppers, onion, and coriander - the entire base of the dish is pollinator-dependent
Pakistan has over 300 native bee species; Apis cerana of northern Pakistan's mountain valleys produces prized Himalayan honey
Pakistani mangoes from Sindh are considered among the world's finest; mango carries a 25% modest pollinator dependency
Coriander is the defining herb of Pakistani cooking and carries a 65% pollinator dependency rating

Why Pakistani Cuisine Depends on Bees

Pakistani cooking shares the Mughal culinary tradition with northern India. Its character comes from tomatoes (65%), onions (65%), coriander (65%), and lemon (65%) - all significantly pollinator-dependent. Karahi, the wok-cooked dish of chicken or lamb with tomatoes, red peppers, onion, and coriander, loses four of six primary ingredients without pollinators. Without bees, Karahi becomes spiced meat in oil. Pakistan's mango industry - Sindhri, Chaunsa, and Langra varieties of Sindh - is worth over one billion dollars annually and carries 25% modest pollinator dependency. Pakistan is also the world's largest lemon exporter; lemons carry 65% dependency.

The mountain valleys of northern Pakistan - Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - produce some of South Asia's most distinctive honey. Apis cerana colonies foraging on high-altitude wildflowers and medicinal plants in the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges produce honey commanding significant premiums. Traditional log hive beekeeping in these valleys uses techniques unchanged for centuries. Pakistani Himalayan honey is used extensively in traditional medicine and is prized in Pakistan and internationally.

"Without bees, a Pakistani Karahi loses its tomatoes, peppers, onion, and coriander. What remains is spiced meat in oil - nourishing, but not Karahi."

The Science Behind Pakistani Crop Pollination

300+

Native bee species in Pakistan

Pakistan's varied landscape from the Arabian Sea coast to the Karakoram supports over 300 described native bee species. Key species include Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, and Apis florea. Approximately 58% are at risk. Data: South Asian bee research literature and IUCN assessments.

Key Pakistani pollinator dependencies: tomatoes (65%), red peppers (65%), onions (65%), cucumbers (95%), coriander (65%), lemon (65%), pomegranate (65%), and mango (25%). Our Acacia Honey comes from the Carpathian Mountains. Read more on the About page, try our honey subscription and save 20%, or explore the World Bee Atlas. For bee decline, read our article on why bee populations are declining.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Pakistani foods disappear without bees?

Tomatoes, red peppers, onions, cucumbers, coriander, lemon, pomegranate, and mango are all significantly pollinator-dependent. Rice, wheat, lentils, and plain yogurt are largely unaffected.

How many bee species live in Pakistan?

Pakistan has over 300 native bee species spanning from the Arabian Sea coast to the Karakoram mountains. Key species include Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, and Apis florea. Approximately 58% are at risk.

What is Himalayan honey from Pakistan?

Produced by Apis cerana in the mountain valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, foraging on high-altitude wildflowers and medicinal plants in the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges. It commands significant premiums for its distinctive character.

Are Pakistani mangoes pollinator-dependent?

Yes, at 25% modest dependency. Pakistan's mango industry - Sindhri, Chaunsa, and Langra varieties from Sindh - is worth over one billion dollars annually. A 25% pollinator-driven yield reduction would represent major economic impact.

What percentage of Pakistani food requires pollinators?

Pakistani cuisine's defining base - tomatoes (65%), red peppers (65%), onions (65%), and coriander (65%) - is all significantly pollinator-dependent under Klein et al. (2007). Rice, lentils, and wheat are largely unaffected.

How can I help protect bees in Pakistan?

Support organisations protecting mountain ecosystem habitats in northern Pakistan. Advocate for reduced agricultural pesticide use in the Sindh and Punjab plains where mango and citrus orchards depend on bee pollination. Explore the World Bee Atlas for native Pakistani species.