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KARACHI: Pakistan’s agriculture experts and industry stakeholders gathered in Islamabad on Tuesday for the Pakistan Olive Summit 2.0, aimed at accelerating investment and innovation in the country’s emerging olive sector, which officials say could generate billions in export revenue.

The event, organized by Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited in collaboration with the National Alliance for Safe Food, brought together policymakers, researchers, and international representatives from countries including Turkiye, ����ֱ��, Italy, Bahrain, Spain, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

According to data shared at the summit, Pakistan has around 10 million acres of cultivable land suitable for olive farming, of which only 55,000 acres have been developed so far. Out of a total requirement of 1.3 billion olive plants, about 7 million have been planted. At full production capacity, the sector could generate over $3 billion annually through olive oil exports, officials said.

“This initiative is not just about cultivating olives, it’s about cultivating opportunity, resilience, and prosperity,” said Muhammad Atif Hanif, CEO of Al Baraka Bank Pakistan, adding that the bank was committed to “empowering farmers, promoting agricultural sustainability, and enabling rural economic transformation through dedicated financing solutions and strategic global partnerships.”

Rana Tanveer Hussain, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, attended the summit as chief guest and called for greater private-sector participation to expand olive cultivation and reduce the country’s dependence on imported edible oils.

The summit emphasized value chain development, farmer training, and investment incentives as key to transforming the crop into a major source of export revenue and rural employment.

Pakistan currently spends more than $3 billion annually on edible oil imports, according to government data. The olive sector has been highlighted as a potential alternative, particularly in the northwestern and Potohar regions, where climate conditions are favorable for cultivation.
 

ISLAMABAD: ����ֱ��’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has launched a project in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to strengthen livelihoods and boost food security for vulnerable rural households through livestock distribution and training programs, the organization said on Tuesday.

The initiative, titled “Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Households in Pakistan through Livestock Provision,” is being implemented in partnership with the province’s Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department (RRSD), the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and local partner Peace and Development Organization (PADO). 

The initiative aims to reduce poverty and promote self-reliance among families affected by economic hardship and past natural disasters by providing livestock, poultry and practical training in animal care and small-scale income generation.

“This project reflects the strong brotherly ties between the Kingdom of ����ֱ�� and Pakistan and demonstrates KSrelief’s ongoing commitment to empowering vulnerable communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods,” Abdullah Al-Baqami, Director of KSrelief Pakistan, said in a statement. 

Under the program, families across multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will receive livestock and specialized training to help them generate sustainable income. 

Beneficiaries in Chitral and Dir will be given goats, those in Swat, Swabi, Haripur and Mansehra will receive poultry kits, while selected families in Charsadda, Mardan and Nowshera will be provided cattle and dairy production training through the provincial Livestock Department.

Noor ul Amin, Additional Secretary of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department and chief guest at the launch on Tuesday, praised the Kingdom’s “generous support” and acknowledged the collaboration between KSrelief, PADO, and the Livestock Department, saying it would “help improve food security and create livelihood opportunities for rural families.”

����ֱ��, through KSrelief, has been one of Pakistan’s largest humanitarian partners, contributing to flood recovery, health, education and livelihood programs across the country. The livestock project expands that cooperation by helping rural households in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province frequently affected by floods and displacement, to rebuild economic stability and reduce dependence on aid.

With around 1.8 million rural households relying on agriculture and livestock as a primary source of income, the project is expected to provide a vital safety net for families in remote areas, enabling them to earn sustainable income, improve nutrition and build resilience against future economic and climate shocks, according to KSrelief.