ISLAMABAD, Jun 15 (APP):To reduce reliance on imports and strengthen domestic edible oil production, the Pakistan Oilseed Department has submitted a comprehensive plan aimed at boosting indigenous oilseed cultivation and increasing local edible oil output through import substitution. The plan outlines a phased roadmap to raise the country’s self-sufficiency in edible oil to 27 percent in the short term, 40 percent in the medium term and 70 percent in the …
Measures planned to promote indigenous oilseed cultivation
ISLAMABAD, Jun 15 (APP):To reduce reliance on imports and strengthen domestic edible oil production, the Pakistan Oilseed Department has submitted a comprehensive plan aimed at boosting indigenous oilseed cultivation and increasing local edible oil output through import substitution.
The plan outlines a phased roadmap to raise the country’s self-sufficiency in edible oil to 27 percent in the short term, 40 percent in the medium term and 70 percent in the long term, an official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research told APP on Monday.
The official said the government was pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to expand oilseed cultivation, enhance productivity and gradually reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported edible oil.
He said that during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2025-26, Pakistan imported 3.65 million tonnes of edible oil, including 0.67 million tonnes extracted from 2.91 million tonnes of imported oilseeds. The import value of edible oil and oilseeds stood at $3.21 billion and $1.34 billion, respectively.
Local edible oil production during FY2025-26 is estimated at 0.55 million tonnes, while total availability from domestic production and imports during July-March stood at 4.17 million tonnes.
Based on the import trend during July-March FY2026, the edible oil import bill is projected to reach around $6 billion by the end of the fiscal year. Total edible oil availability is estimated at 5.36 million tonnes for the full year on a pro-rata basis, reflecting a 15.5 percent increase over FY2025.
Domestic production is expected to meet around 10 percent of the country’s total edible oil requirement, broadly in line with the previous year.
To support the objective of increasing local oilseed production, the official said the government has earmarked special funds under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY2026-27 and is accelerating efforts to bring additional areas under oilseed cultivation. These measures are aimed at enhancing domestic production capacity, improving self-sufficiency and reducing the burden of edible oil imports on the national economy.
