RAWALPINDI, Nov 15 (APP):Like other countries around the world, Pakistan will observe World Olive Day on November 26, while the country has achieved another milestone by securing membership of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the first time this year. The Government of Pakistan and Italy are continuing their cooperation to promote olive cultivation in the country. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean …
World olive day to be observed in Pakistan on November 26
RAWALPINDI, Nov 15 (APP):Like other countries around the world, Pakistan will observe World Olive Day on November 26, while the country has achieved another milestone by securing membership of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the first time this year.
The Government of Pakistan and Italy are continuing their cooperation to promote olive cultivation in the country. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM Bari) and the Punjab Government are playing key roles in these efforts.
The Potohar region, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and certain areas of Balochistan have been identified as suitable for olive cultivation, with significant potential for the development of this sector.
Under the Olive Culture Scale-Up Project, supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, olive growers and individuals associated with oil extraction units are being trained in modern cultivation techniques, fruit harvesting and olive oil production. The project is being implemented by CIHEAM Bari in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
According to a six-year study published in the Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research in November 2026, researchers examined eight different harvesting periods for the Arbequina variety of olives in Chakwal, Kallar Kahar and Talagang. The findings revealed that olives harvested in mid-November produced the highest average oil yield.
The research findings are expected to provide valuable guidance for improving olive production and increasing farmers’ incomes.
According to figures released by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research in June 2026, the number of olive trees in Pakistan has exceeded seven million, while 51 olive oil extraction units are currently operational across the country.
Estimates by the International Olive Council indicate that Pakistan produced approximately 1,500 tonnes of olive oil during the 2024-25 crop year, while around 3,500 tonnes were imported to meet domestic requirements.
It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the National Olive Value Chain Policy and its implementation roadmap up to 2030 on August 24 this year. The initiative aims to strengthen the entire olive sector, including cultivation, production, processing and marketing, while increasing domestic edible oil production and reducing dependence on imports.
