Pakistan takes permanent seat at International Olive Council meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken its seat at the International Olive Council for the first time after joining the organisation in May 2026, with Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain leading the country’s delegation at the council’s 123rd meeting in Lisbon on Tuesday.

Pakistan attended the session alongside 27 other olive oil-producing countries. The delegation also included Pakistan’s ambassador to Portugal, Aisha Farooqui. Pakistan’s entry into the council was welcomed by the IOC executive director, the chairman of the council and member states.

In his statement to the meeting, the minister thanked the council and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the IOC’s objectives. He also briefed participants on the expansion of Pakistan’s olive industry, saying more than 7 million olive trees have been cultivated over 55,669 acres, while olive clusters are spreading across different parts of the country.

The minister said Pakistan has put in place a full farm-to-fork value chain for the sector. This includes 51 olive oil extraction units, modern processing infrastructure, nurseries, weather stations and four quality laboratories aligned with IOC standards.

He further told the council that Pakistan has become self-sufficient in the domestic production of certified olive saplings. The country’s progress in the sector has also received international recognition, including a Silver Award at the New York International Olive Oil Competition last year.

Pakistan also expressed its intention to play a cooperative and positive role in promoting sustainable and climate-resilient development in the global olive oil and table olives sector.