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Given the immense potential of farming olives in Pakistan, the country wants to produce 16,000 tons of olives by 2027. With consultation from Italian experts, Pakistan identified potential areas for olive planting in different parts of the country, including the northwestern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and the southwestern parts of Balochistan.
Moreover, the Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Khushab, Chakwal, Attock, and Potohar areas have 11,125 acres of land on which Pakistan is growing almost 1.2 million olive trees. They have the potential to reach 5,200 tons of edible olive oil by 2024, worth 1.727 billion PKR.
In KPK, 9,391 acres of land are being used with an expected olive oil worth of 1.458 billion PKR by 2024. In Balochistan, 500,000 plants, with a supposed economic income of 1.160 billion PKR by the year 2024, are expected.
In the same way, Pakistan estimated a substantial revenue of 71 million rupees by the plantation of 50,000 olive trees in Azad Kashmir and Islamabad, with a land coverage of 455 acres, in the next four years.
Thanks to Imran Khan’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project, olive planting projects have now grown exponentially. Pakistan is currently producing 1,500 tons of olive oil, and 830 tons of table olives. Due to their efforts, Pakistan has now become a full member of the International Olive Council (IOC)— an intergovernmental organization of states that produce olives or products derived from olives. Alongside the monetary benefits, olive tree farming will also help Pakistan curb soil erosion and desertification.
Presently, Pakistan is the world’s third-largest importer of cooking oil and imported around $2.1 billion worth of palm oil in 2020-21. The IOC’s certification will help Pakistan use the latest techniques and methods to improve its olive farming and take big steps toward being self-sustainable in the future.
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