The Punjab government has launched an ambitious project to plant 50 million olive trees across 10 million acres by 2026. Currently, Pakistan has about five million olive trees, along with a number of wild olive trees.
Azeem Tariq, Director of the Olive Growing Project, highlighted the many benefits of olive farming. One of the main advantages is reducing Pakistan’s dependence on costly edible oil imports, which currently cost the country around $4.5 billion each year. Olive oil is also important for its nutritional value and religious significance, which drives demand.
To support the project, the government is working with countries like Italy, Spain, and China to increase olive production and become more self-sufficient in edible oil.
Pakistan has millions of wild olive trees and land in areas such as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Punjab, making it an ideal location for expanding the olive industry. This sector has great potential for economic growth, job creation, and helping to reduce poverty.
By promoting olive farming, the government hopes to improve local agriculture, reduce the cost of edible oil imports, and create new economic opportunities for the country.
The plan to plant 50 million olive trees is seen as a step toward strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural sector and enhancing the nation’s self-reliance in edible oil production.
