The Petals of Pattoki

Posted on February 1, 2007
Filed Under >S.A.J. Shirazi, Culture & Heritage, Environment, Society, Travel
50 Comments
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S.A.J Shirazi

Flowers surely bring people together. Blossoms can fuel a flaming passion, calm a raging jealousy, comfort a living being or earn a living. Presenting flowers is a romantic social folkway. Aside from romantic and literary delights, there is commerce in flowers too.


The town of Pattoki is one of the most famous places in Pakistan for growing flowers. The town has one of the biggest clusters of flower, fruit and decorative plant nurseries in the country. Growing flowers and tree plants and selling is a major business concern in this sleepy town situated in the suburbs of Lahore.

Leave Pattoki – a typical Punjabi rural market town – by road and it is like sailing through the ocean of green. All those who drive on the National Highway between Lahore and Sahiwal are familiar with over one kilometre of lush greenery and the fragrant stretch of nurseries on either side of the road on the edge of the town. Aside from the fragrance of the wares, the traders offer a large variety of flowers, creepers, decorative bushes, ornamental and fruit tree plants, flowerpots and seeds. ‘How to grow’ flower books (even if you have no space in your home) are also available. I saw a few breeding greenhouses on the roadside and hundreds of rows of crossbred blossoms on a fresh spring morning.

It all started when a migrated family settled here after partition in 1947. Two brothers set up a small nursery along the roadside. The concern started growing with the passage of time. Later, the family grew and divided the business assets, which resulted in more nurseries as a family business. Afterwards, more and more people started growing and selling flowers and now the small town of Patoki has earned its claim to national fame for growing flowers and decorative plants. Despite having potential for becoming a recognised industry, flower trade in Patoki is still a family business.

“Rose plants grown in Pattoki are sent to places as far as Quetta,”

According to Mubarik Ali, a proprietor of a well-laid nursery,

“but what keeps us going are commuters on the National Highway who stop by and purchase flower or fruit plants for their home gardens. Or when we get a large order from some five star hotels or multinationals based in Lahore to provide them grown flowers plants (in pots) for special events. We deliver them the flowers, indoor plants, shrubs and even creepers in pots and the landscape experts and interior decorators arrange them for display on the site.” Besides growers and traders, a large number of people are associated with this trade: pot makers, gardeners, and labourers.”

Another flower grower, Mian Khan, told Us about a beautiful tradition that has matured with the cooperation of his nursery in a nearby village Thatta Ghulamka, where German volunteers are working on different poverty alleviation projects. In the Village every newly married couple is presented a fruit tree whereas parents of every newborn get a flower tree by the community based NGO Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama.

Nature being on the side of agricultural Pakistan, flowers can be one of the best sources of earning for Pakistan. We have potential markets in Middle East and some European countries to start with. There is a dire need to explore these markets and grow more flowers.

Following video clip is made by ATP’s esteemed contributor Raju Jameel while he was traveling near Pattoki. He talks about all these nurseries that adorn the national highway N5 in this area.

Note: All photos are taken from flickr.com and come from very talented Pakistani photographers; however, they may not have been taken in Pattoki. Clicking on the photos will take you to their source website.

50 responses to “The Petals of Pattoki”

  1. sadaf says:

    very nice and informative article and you rightly said flower are sign of live…..

  2. khan hameed says:

    hi all…. does any1 can kindly tell me where can i get 100% pure rose and jasmine flower oil????

  3. Owais Mughal says:

    A video clip is added to the post today. It is made by ATP’s esteemed contributor janaab Raju Jameel while he was traveling near Pattoki. He talks about all these nurseries that adorn the national highway N5 in this area.

  4. Naan Haleem says:

    I have seen this heavenly part of Multan Road many a times. I wonder if the nursery owners join hands to organize a horticulture mela in the upcoming spring here. A little government backing with the push up of local politicians and decent media coverage with appropriate sponsorship, can turn this place into a significant attraction for everyone.

  5. Mohammad Sadiq Kamboo says:

    Salam to all of You……….

    Respectfully……..

    I am Mohammad Sadiq from Pattoki Distt. Kasur having a floriculture farm with the name of Sadabahar Floriculture & Nursery Farm at Burlub Cannal Pattoki….
    I have quite range of Cycas Plant (Kanghi Palm) having plants from newly born to 25 years old. Potted plants and seedlings of Kanghi Palm are also available. Other ornamental plants are also available.

    For more informations contact,

    Home address… Japan Factory Old Mandi,Pattoki

    Email address… sadabahar_004@yahoo.com

    Contact no. +923004706915

    Compliments to all of you….
    Best Of Luck…

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