Islamabad (TDI): Al Baraka Pakistan Olive Summit was organized by the National Alliance for Safe Food (NASF) and the Pakistan Olive Initiative. The summit brought together policymakers, researchers, diplomats, and industry leaders to shape the future of Pakistan’s olive industry.
Under the theme “Developing a Safe, Sustainable, and Ready-to-Export Supply Chain of the Olive Sector,” ambassadors of Italy, Greece, Jordan as well as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the embassy of Palestine, and representatives from embassies of Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Denmark participated in the Summit.
The Chief Guest, Rana Tanveer Hussain – the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, highlighted the government’s strong commitment to expanding olive cultivation, noting that over 6.3 million olive trees have already been planted across 51,000 acres of land in Pakistan.
He further shared initiatives for research, certification, and the establishment of a National Olive Council. The minister also announced Pakistan’s intention to join the International Olive Council (IOC); opening new avenues for trade, research, and international collaboration.
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Rana Mashhood Ahmad – the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, stressed youth empowerment and skill development in agriculture and food technology; encouraging young entrepreneurs to take part in Pakistan’s olive value chain.
“The youth of Pakistan are the driving force for sustainable agricultural transformation and innovation. The olive sector can become a symbol of our national potential,” he said.
Muhammad Atif Hanif, CEO of Al Baraka Bank, in his keynote address, reaffirmed the bank’s role in promoting sustainable agriculture, emphasizing investment in the olive value chain as part of Al Baraka’s social and economic responsibility.
The comprehensive summit featured high-impact discussions on olive sector development, innovation, and trade.
The olive industry in the country is expanding primarily under government-led initiatives. The prioritization of this sector is propelled by self-sufficiency in edible oils and producing enough olive to export it as well.
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