In the areas of Katcha Pakka Chak 43 and Khadia Chak 44, colourful roses blooming in the gardens are a routine sight.
The flowers are sent to different cities of the country as well as abroad and their trade is an important source of earning for the growers.
Roses are divided into groups based on different characteristics, including hybrid tea rose, floribunda, miniature and climbing rose.
According to a local farmer, there are more than 20,000 varieties of roses in the world. The plants require at least six hours of sunshine daily and they should be planted away from trees so that they don't remain under shade for long.
Rose is planted between November and February.
A sweet preserve of rose petals, called gulkand, is believed to be beneficial for patients of several diseases. Rose oil is also used for hair.
The farmers go to the flower market to sell the roses, from where traders send them across Pakistan and to other countries.
According to Muhammad Niaz Sukhra, a candied rose petal producer, gulkand is prepared from dried flowers in Pattoki. After completely drying the flowers, an equivalent weight of sugar is added to produce the preserve in two weeks.
A grower, Chaudhry Mukhtar Ahmed, said the farming of flowers required hard work. The growers spend money on fertilisers and pesticides. Workers are paid for harvesting the flowers very skillfully. They also pack the flowers and receive daily wages of Rs800 to Rs1,000.
The farmer transports the flowers to the regional market in Pattoki. The roses are auctioned in the market.
Agriculture Assistant Director Sajid Ali Jhandir said many local people were employed in the rose trade in addition to the farmers.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2023.
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