ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched the National Olive Value Chain Policy 2024–2030, marking a major step towards developing a competitive, inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient olive sector in Pakistan.
The national policy provides a strategic framework to unlock the potential of Pakistan’s olive industry, strengthen the complete value chain, promote investment and innovation, empower farmers and create new opportunities for sustainable rural development.
The OliveCulture Scale-Up Project, implemented by CIHEAM Bari with the support of the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has played a significant role in supporting Pakistan’s olive sector.
The project has contributed technical expertise, institutional capacity building, policy development, stakeholder training and collaboration among key actors across the country’s olive value chain.
The policy launch was attended by Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Ugo Ciarlatani, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Amir Ali Ahmed, along with federal ministers, government officials, development partners, technical experts, farmers, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, participants highlighted the importance of transforming Pakistan’s growing olive potential into a sustainable and commercially viable sector capable of benefiting farmers and rural communities.
The launch also represents an important milestone in Pakistan-Italy cooperation, translating years of technical collaboration into a comprehensive national policy framework.
The policy is expected to provide clearer direction for investment, innovation, value addition and market development while supporting climate-resilient agricultural practices.
With its focus on the entire olive value chain, the framework aims to move beyond olive cultivation by strengthening processing, marketing, investment and institutional linkages.
The initiative could also contribute to sustainable rural development by creating new economic opportunities for farmers and businesses while strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural resilience in the face of climate-related challenges.
The National Olive Value Chain Policy 2024–2030 marks a new chapter for Pakistan’s olive sector, bringing together government, international partners, farmers and the private sector around a shared vision for a stronger, more sustainable and climate-resilient olive industry.
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