Pakistan Aims for Olive Oil Self-Sufficiency with 2 Million Saplings Plan

Pakistan's government has announced plans to expand its domestic edible oil production by planting two million olive saplings over 15,000 acres in the next three years. This move aims to reduce the country's reliance on costly imports and increase self-sufficiency.

The current olive cultivation is relatively small, with around seven million trees planted across 55,700 acres. However, the new expansion targets represent a significant increase, which could boost production by nearly a quarter if additional cultivation is achieved.

National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized that expanding plantations alone will not be enough and called for investment in the entire olive value chain, including processing, extraction, storage, testing, and marketing. He also highlighted the need to utilize the olive-growing potential of Potohar region.

Pakistan currently imports around 3.48 million tons of palm oil annually, which costs the country a significant portion of its import bill. The government's efforts aim to make better use of local resources and reduce dependence on overseas supplies.