Kiwi season in Pakistan runs from November to April, and almost every kiwi sold in Pakistani markets is imported. Unlike the locally grown seasonal fruits in Pakistan, kiwi availability follows import shipments rather than a domestic harvest. This page explains the exact months kiwi is available, where Pakistan’s kiwi comes from, whether kiwi grows inside Pakistan, and how to pick good kiwi during the season.
What Is Kiwi Season in Pakistan?
Kiwi season in Pakistan is the November to April window when imported kiwi fills fruit markets, with peak supply from December to February. Pakistan grows almost no commercial kiwi, so the season depends on import shipments, mainly from Iran.
The season aligns with winter because the main supplier, Iran, harvests kiwi in autumn and ships the fruit to Pakistan through the cold months. Cold weather also helps the fruit survive transport and storage, so traders stock kiwi heavily between December and February.
Kiwi supply drops sharply after April. Small quantities of imported kiwi appear in large city markets between May and October, but the fruit costs more and the quality varies, because the stock comes from long-distance shipments and extended cold storage.
In Which Months Is Kiwi Available in Pakistan?
Kiwi is available in Pakistan from November to April, with the strongest supply in December, January, and February. The month by month availability is shown below.
| Month | Kiwi availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| November | Starting | First Iranian shipments reach wholesale markets |
| December | Peak | Full supply in fruit shops and street carts |
| January | Peak | Widest availability and best selection |
| February | Peak | Strong supply continues nationwide |
| March | Available | Supply declines as Iranian stock runs down |
| April | Ending | Last regular stock of the season |
| May to October | Scarce | Limited imported stock in large cities only |
Availability is strongest in major city markets including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Smaller towns receive kiwi mainly during the December to February peak, when wholesale volumes are high enough to reach secondary markets.
Where Does Pakistan’s Kiwi Come From?
Pakistan’s kiwi comes from 3 main supplier countries: Iran, China, and New Zealand. Each supplier serves a different part of the year.
Iran
Iran is the dominant supplier of kiwi to Pakistan. According to IndexBox trade data, Iran accounted for about 95% of Pakistan’s kiwi import value in 2024. Iran harvests kiwi in autumn, and road transport across the shared border keeps freight costs lower than sea or air shipments from distant producers. Iranian kiwi defines the November to April season in Pakistani markets.
China
China is the world’s largest kiwi producer and supplies part of Pakistan’s imported stock. Chinese kiwi enters Pakistani wholesale markets alongside Iranian fruit during the winter season.
New Zealand
New Zealand supplies smaller volumes at higher prices. New Zealand harvests kiwi from March to May, the opposite of the northern hemisphere schedule, so New Zealand fruit covers part of the off-season months when Iranian stock has finished. New Zealand kiwi usually appears in premium fruit shops and supermarkets rather than street carts.
Is Kiwi Grown in Pakistan?
Kiwi is grown in Pakistan on an experimental scale only, and the plantings do not yet supply commercial markets. The National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute in Shinkiari, Mansehra district, has grown kiwi successfully in trials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Dawn reported that the trials recorded around 90% plant survival and per-tree yields near 42 kg, higher than typical per-tree figures reported for established producers.
Trial and demonstration plantings also exist in Abbottabad, Swat, and Gilgit-Baltistan, and a joint project by ZTBL and PMAS Arid Agriculture University planted kiwi seedlings at a farm near Islamabad in 2021. The cool, humid valleys of the Hazara division suit the crop, because kiwi vines require winter chilling and steady moisture.
Commercial orchards take years to mature, so imported fruit continues to supply the entire market. Locally grown kiwi may reach Pakistani markets in meaningful volume once the current plantings expand beyond the research stage.
How to Buy and Store Kiwi in Pakistan?
To buy good kiwi in Pakistan, shop during the December to February peak, when supply is freshest and selection is widest. The buying and storage points are listed below.
- Press gently before buying. A ripe kiwi yields slightly to light pressure, while a rock-hard kiwi needs a few days to ripen.
- Reject shriveled or leaking fruit. Wrinkled skin and soft spots signal old cold-storage stock, which is common late in the season.
- Ripen firm kiwi at room temperature. Firm kiwi softens within 3 to 5 days when kept in a paper bag with a banana or an apple, because those fruits release ethylene gas that speeds ripening.
- Refrigerate ripe kiwi. Ripe kiwi keeps for about a week in the refrigerator, while firm unripe kiwi keeps for several weeks.
- Buy from high-turnover sellers. Busy fruit stalls restock often during the peak, so the kiwi spends less time in storage.
FAQs About Kiwi Season in Pakistan
In which season does kiwi come in Pakistan?
Kiwi comes in winter in Pakistan. Imported kiwi arrives in November, peaks from December to February, and remains available until April, after which regular supply ends.
Which months have the best kiwi in Pakistan?
December, January, and February have the best kiwi in Pakistan. Supply is highest, stock is freshest, and selection is widest in these 3 peak months.
Which country does Pakistan import kiwi from?
Pakistan imports kiwi mainly from Iran, which supplied about 95% of import value in 2024 per IndexBox data. China and New Zealand supply smaller volumes.
Is kiwi grown in Pakistan?
Kiwi is grown only in experimental plantings in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swat, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The trials show strong results, but no commercial-scale orchards supply Pakistani markets yet.
Is kiwi available in summer in Pakistan?
Kiwi is scarce in summer in Pakistan. Limited imported stock reaches large city supermarkets between May and October at higher prices, mainly from New Zealand’s opposite-season harvest.
Last Thoughts on Kiwi Season in Pakistan
Kiwi season in Pakistan follows imports, not a local harvest. The fruit arrives in November, peaks from December to February, and ends in April, with Iran supplying nearly the entire market and China and New Zealand filling the gaps. Experimental orchards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan show that Pakistan can grow kiwi, but commercial production has not started, so winter remains the only reliable window to buy fresh kiwi at reasonable prices. Buy during the December to February peak, check firmness before paying, and store ripe fruit in the refrigerator to cover the weeks when market supply runs thin.
