Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has formally launched Pakistan’s National Olive Value Chain Policy, with the government aiming to expand olive cultivation, strengthen domestic processing and reduce the country’s dependence on imported edible oil. The policy was unveiled on August 24, 2026, at a ceremony in Islamabad attended by farmers, growers, diplomats, government officials and young entrepreneurs. The event was organised in collaboration with the Italian government and highlighted the growing role of olive cultivation in Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the country’s developing olive sector as a promising agricultural success story with the potential to contribute to food security and reduce pressure on the national import bill. Pakistan currently spends around $4 billion every year on crude edible oil imports. The prime minister said expanding domestic olive production could help reduce this burden and expressed confidence that sustained efforts across the sector could move Pakistan toward greater self-sufficiency in edible oil within the coming years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also recognised farmers who continued investing in olive cultivation despite scepticism from their families and local communities. He specifically highlighted growers in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa whose olive orchards have received international recognition, including awards in New York, London and Dubai. He credited the determination of these farmers and the support provided by provincial governments for helping establish olive cultivation as a growing agricultural activity in Pakistan.
The new policy provides a roadmap covering olive production, processing, quality control, packaging, branding and marketing. The government intends to develop the sector beyond cultivation and establish a complete value chain that can support domestic consumption as well as export opportunities. Under the policy, Pakistan also aims to position itself as a regional centre for olive oil production serving markets across South, Central and Eastern Asia.
Pakistan’s olive cultivation has expanded considerably over the past decade. Officials said the number of olive trees in the country has increased from approximately 500,000 in 2016 to more than seven million at present. The trees are spread across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh, while olive orchards now cover approximately 60,000 acres across the country.
The government is also seeking to strengthen human resources and technical expertise in the sector. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan would finance the training of 100 young agriculture graduates in Italy. The programme will cover olive cultivation, processing and marketing, with the graduates expected to return to Pakistan and contribute to the development of the domestic olive value chain.
The prime minister said the government would also continue encouraging other edible oil crops, including palm and sunflower, alongside the olive initiative. He called for continued cooperation between farmers, government institutions and other stakeholders, stressing that agricultural programmes must translate into practical work in the field rather than remain limited to policy documents.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said the policy was intended to move Pakistan’s olive sector from basic production toward processing, packaging, branding and export-oriented development. He said agricultural competition increasingly depends on quality, value addition, packaging, branding and market access rather than production alone.
Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Amir Ali Ahmed briefed participants on the policy’s objectives and said the government wanted Pakistan to become an important centre for olive oil production in South, Central and Eastern Asia. He emphasised that the sector should develop a complete system covering cultivation, processing, value addition, branding and marketing.
Pakistan has also strengthened its position within the international olive sector. Officials said the country secured a permanent seat at the International Olive Council this year during the organisation’s 123rd session in Portugal. Pakistan has also established its first Olive Sensory Evaluation Lab in Islamabad, providing infrastructure for assessing olive oil quality.
Italy has played a significant role in supporting the development of Pakistan’s olive sector. Italian Ambassador Ugo Ciarlatani said the policy reflected more than seven decades of cooperation between the two countries. Italian assistance has included support for sensor and phytosanitary laboratories, training for plant pathologists and chemists, the establishment of seven notified nurseries and 36 business development groups led by women and young people.
The ambassador also highlighted the €20 million Professional Capacity Building and Extension Agriculture Programme as a recent example of cooperation between Italy and Pakistan. He described olive oil as an important part of Italy’s cultural identity and traditions while reaffirming the country’s support for Pakistan’s developing olive industry.
The ceremony also featured farmers and entrepreneurs who have established olive-related businesses in different parts of Pakistan. Abdul Jabbar, an olive farmer from Loralai, Balochistan, said he began growing olives in 2011 despite scepticism from his family. His orchard began producing in 2017 with support from the Olive Culture project and local officials and has since expanded to tens of thousands of plants. Some of the oil produced from his orchard contributed to Pakistan’s award-winning olive oil entries in New York and London.
Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Irfan, recognised as one of Pakistan’s leading female olive farmers, said she planted more than 14,000 olive trees across over 600 canals of land in Mardan after an Italian government survey identified the area’s potential in 2008-09. Yaqub Izhar, who operates Pakistan’s largest private-sector olive nursery, said his interest in olives began after visiting an exhibition in Istanbul around 2007-08, despite having no previous background in agriculture or horticulture.
Dr. Marco Marchetti, an internationally recognised agronomist associated with the development of Pakistan’s olive sector, was also recognised during the ceremony. Farmers including Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Irfan and Hassan Tareem of Loralai were honoured by the prime minister for their contributions to the sector.
The launch of the National Olive Value Chain Policy marks a broader government effort to develop olive cultivation into a commercially viable agricultural sector. By combining increased cultivation with processing, quality control, branding, technical training and market development, Pakistan aims to increase domestic olive oil production, create opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs, and reduce its reliance on imported edible oil.
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