Celina Ali
Islamabad: Pakistan this week formally assumed its seat as a permanent member of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the first time during the council’s 123rd session held in Lisbon, Portugal, marking a major milestone for the country’s expanding olive sector.
The development follows Pakistan’s accession to the IOC in May 2026, after which it was invited to participate in the Lisbon session alongside 27 other olive-producing member states.
Leading the Pakistani delegation, Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the IOC’s objectives and pledged active engagement in advancing the global olive industry.
He highlighted Pakistan’s rapid progress in olive cultivation, noting that more than seven million olive trees have been planted across 55,669 acres, with production clusters steadily expanding across different regions of the country.
The minister also outlined the development of a comprehensive “farm-to-fork” olive value chain, including 51 olive oil extraction units, modern processing facilities, nurseries, weather stations and four IOC-aligned quality laboratories. He added that Pakistan has achieved self-sufficiency in certified olive sapling production.
Referring to international recognition, Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan’s olive oil industry had secured the Silver Award at the New York International Olive Oil Competition last year, reflecting improving quality standards and growing global competitiveness.
He expressed the government’s resolve to contribute to sustainable and climate-resilient growth of the global olive sector through strengthened collaboration under the IOC framework.
Officials said Pakistan’s permanent membership is expected to enhance technical cooperation, improve export potential, and accelerate the development of the country’s emerging olive industry.