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

The Government of Pakistan has announced plans to create a National Olive Oil Council under the new National Olive Policy, aimed at regulating the country’s rapidly growing olive sector, boosting exports, and reducing dependence on imported edible oils.

The new body will serve as a central authority for coordination, certification, branding, and quality control of 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 significantly, with over 33,000 acres of marginal land converted into olive orchards and more than 6.9 million trees planted across 60 districts. The sector now involves over 11,000 farmers, supported by 51 olive oil extraction units, quality control laboratories, and international partners — including the Government of Italy, which is funding cultivation and processing projects. The upcoming Olive Oil Council will coordinate these initiatives, focusing on branding, marketing, and exports to position Pakistan as a credible player in the global olive oil market.

Tags: Pakistan, olive oil