Pakistan Plans Major Expansion of Commercial Olive Farming
Pakistan has approved a revised plan to expand olive cultivation on a commercial scale as the government seeks to increase domestic olive production and encourage greater private-sector participation in agriculture.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved Phase II of the project focused on promoting commercial olive farming across suitable regions of the country.
The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, who called for a more professional and results-driven approach to the expansion of the olive sector.
Government Targets Wider Olive Cultivation
Ahsan Iqbal said the programme should involve successful private-sector olive growers so their experience and investment can help accelerate commercial production.
The project will focus particularly on expanding olive plantations in Balochistan and the newly merged districts, while the government has set a long-term ambition of extending olive cultivation to around one million acres.
The minister also highlighted the agricultural potential of the Kallar Kahar-Islamabad corridor and the broader Potohar region.
He directed officials to incorporate these areas into the revised project to make better use of land that could support olive cultivation.
Greater Private-Sector Role Planned
The olive cultivation programme was originally launched in 2014 under Vision 2025.
According to the planning minister, the initiative now requires stronger participation from private growers and investors to achieve better commercial results.
Bringing experienced farmers and private-sector stakeholders into the programme could help improve cultivation practices, increase investment and support the development of a stronger olive value chain.
Olive Production Seen as Key Agricultural Opportunity
The government believes expanding olive farming could contribute to Pakistan’s agricultural economy while increasing domestic production of olive-related products.
The revised project is therefore focused not only on increasing the number of olive plantations but also on developing commercial-scale farming in regions with suitable conditions.
The CDWP also considered and approved or recommended several other development projects covering areas including higher education, governance, information technology, sports and water management.
However, the olive cultivation project remained one of the prominent agricultural initiatives discussed during the meeting, reflecting the government’s broader efforts to promote commercial farming and strengthen Pakistan’s domestic olive industry.
