Pakistan now imports 90% of its edible oil requirements

According to Pakistan Oilseed Department Managing Director Dr. Basharat Hussain Shah, sunflower acreage has declined sharply since agricultural responsibilities were devolved to the provinces. The planted area fell from about 445,000 hectares in 2011 to roughly 69,000 hectares today. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s edible oil and oilseed import bill is projected to increase to US$6 billion in the 2025/26 fiscal year, up from nearly US$5 billion a year earlier.

Officials attribute the decline in domestic oilseed production to several structural factors, including low import tariffs on edible oils and oilseeds, the lack of locally developed high-yielding varieties and hybrids, insufficient mechanization, and the absence of minimum support prices and guaranteed procurement mechanisms for oilseed crops.

To strengthen the sector, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research has proposed restructuring the Pakistan Oilseed Department, which had previously been scheduled for abolition. At the same time, the government is implementing two major programs worth nearly PKR16 billion to boost oilseed production and expand commercial olive cultivation.

Members of the Senate committee emphasized that increasing domestic oilseed production is strategically important for Pakistan’s food security. The committee instructed the ministry to provide detailed data on edible oil imports over the past three years to assess the country’s growing dependence on imports and develop policy measures aimed at reducing it.