Punjab government plans to plant 50 million olive trees across 10 million acres by 2026

The Punjab government has unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 50 million olive trees across 10 million acres by 2026. Currently, Pakistan has around five million olive trees, alongside numerous wild olive trees.

Azeem Tariq, Director of the Olive Growing Project, emphasized the multiple benefits of olive farming, including reducing the country’s reliance on expensive edible oil imports, which cost around $4.5 billion annually. Olive oil’s nutritional and religious significance adds to its demand.

The government is collaborating with countries like Italy, Spain, and China to boost production and self-sufficiency in edible oil. With millions of wild olive trees and suitable lands in regions like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Punjab, the olive sector holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.