Multan, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 30th Aug, 2026) Tibba Sultanpur, a town in Vehari district is quietly emerging as one of Punjab’s important centers for “Gulab” (rose) cultivation, turning the beautiful flower into a profitable cash crop, as well as source of daily employment for hundreds of poor women.
More than 600 acres of land in the area are currently being used for rose cultivation, while the local rose flowers market, with around three dozen shops, has become an important trading center for South Punjab. The area witnessed a rapid expansion in rose cultivation over the past two decade because the “Gulab” crop offers attractive returns and can provide flowers throughout the year.
The story of Tibba Sultanpur’s rose cultivation began around 27 years ago when progressive farmer Haji Muhammad Rafiq Khan Manais introduced the crop to the area. What started as an individual farming initiative has gradually developed into a growing agricultural activity, involving many local farmers.
Haji Muhammad Rafiq Ahmed, also the President of the Rose Market Association, told APP “Punjab has four important rose markets, located at Theeng Mor, Pattoki, Saggian and Tiba Sultanpur. He said Tiba Sultanpur’s market has established an important position in South Punjab’s flower trade.
The real attraction for farmers is the crop’s strong demand during religious occasions and some other festivals. Sales of roses increase sharply around Eid Milad-un-Nabi (12 Rabi-ul-Awwal), Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha and the first ten days of Muharram. These peak-demand periods allow growers to earn handsome returns.
According to Rafiq Khan, rose production reaches its peak during spring, when an acre can produce around five maunds of flowers a day. At the height of the season, nearly 2,000 maunds of roses are transported daily from Tibba Sultanpur to different parts of the country.
But behind these millions of flowers is another important story, the employment they create for local women. Rose picking is largely carried out by women from nearby villages. They are paid around Rs 25 for picking one kilogram of flowers, and hundreds of women earn daily wages through this work.
Similarly, another grower Akhtar Khan said rose cultivation can provide profits of around 100 percent.
He believes the risk of loss is relatively low if farmers provide water at the right time and manage harvesting according to market demand.
The crop has also created a small nursery business in the area. Farmer Sajjad Khan said rose cuttings are prepared locally, with around 4,500 plants required for an acre. “Ready-to-plant cuttings with soil around their roots can begin producing flowers relatively quickly”, he added.
About cultivation technique, Rafiq Khan shared rose plants are generally planted about two feet apart, while the distance between rows is around five feet. Cuttings are normally planted in November and December and production continues to increase as the plants get mature.
Another attraction for farmers is the crop’s resilience, he responded to a query.
According to the growers, roses are relatively strong plants and their production is less vulnerable to weather conditions than many other crops.
The economic value of the flower increases even further after it leaves the farm. Roses are sold in the local market at around Rs200 to Rs250 per kilogram. But when the same flowers reach garland makers, one kilogram can produce around 10 garlands, with each garland selling for approximately Rs100.
This simple calculation shows how much value is added after the flower leaves the farmer’s field. A crop worth two hundred rupees at the farm level can generate around Rs1,000 in retail value when converted into garlands.
People welcome citizens on different occasions of celebration especially served to persons returned after performing Hajj and Umrah.
Tiba Sultanpur’s rose economy therefore extends far beyond farming. Farmers grow the flowers, women pick them, traders bring them to market and garland makers transform them into higher-value products. Similarly, the flower has medicinal value also. There is urgent need to establish cold storage and dehydration plants to earn more
profit.
What began 27 years ago with one progressive farmer has now become a growing local economy. In Tibba Sultanpur, the rose is no longer merely a flower but it is becoming a symbol of profitable farming, women’ s employment and rural entrepreneurship in South Punjab also.
APP/atf
