Pakistan to establish olive oil council to reduce reliance on edible oil imports

olive oil and related products. It will also oversee the implementation of the National Olive Policy and Action Plan, aligning Pakistan’s industry with international standards set by the International Olive Council (IOC). According to officials, the policy focuses on sustainable production, improving rural livelihoods, saving foreign exchange, and enhancing value-added exports. A representative of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research stated that within the next five to seven years, Pakistan aims to transform from an emerging producer into a competitive global player in olive oil production. The country’s olive industry has already shown remarkable progress: domestic olive oil output has cut imports by nearly 50%, while exports continue to rise. Pakistan’s olive oil brand “LO” recently won a silver award at the New York International Olive Oil Competition, competing against over 1,200 entries from 28 countries. Since 2014, Pakistan’s olive cultivation has expanded ...