Pakistan Joins Global Olive Council as Permanent Member

Pakistan has formally taken a permanent seat at the International Olive Council for the first time, marking a major diplomatic and agricultural milestone for the country’s emerging olive sector. The development took place during the council’s 123rd meeting in Lisbon on Tuesday, where Pakistan joined other olive-producing nations at the global forum.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain led Pakistan’s delegation at the session, accompanied by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Portugal Aisha Farooqui. The country’s participation followed its membership of the council in May 2026, making the Lisbon meeting Pakistan’s first appearance as a permanent member.

The International Olive Council is the main intergovernmental body dealing with olive oil and table olives, and Pakistan’s entry gives the country access to a platform where production standards, technical cooperation, quality benchmarks and market development are discussed among member states. Pakistan joined 27 other olive oil-producing countries at the meeting.

Rana Tanveer Hussain thanked the council’s leadership and member countries for welcoming Pakistan into the organisation. He said Pakistan remained committed to strengthening its olive industry and working with international partners to improve quality, production systems and long-term sectoral growth.

Pakistan’s olive sector has expanded steadily in recent years. According to the figures shared at the meeting, more than 7 million olive trees are now planted across 55,669 acres, while olive clusters are developing in different parts of the country. These plantations are being supported through nurseries, processing units, extraction facilities, weather stations and quality-testing infrastructure.

The government has also highlighted progress across the wider value chain. Pakistan now has 51 olive extraction units, processing facilities, certified sapling systems and four laboratories aligned with International Olive Council standards. The country has also achieved self-sufficiency in certified olive saplings, reducing reliance on imported plant material for expansion.

Pakistan’s olive industry has already gained some international recognition. The country secured a Silver Award at the New York International Olive Oil Competition last year, a result officials view as evidence that Pakistani olive oil can compete on quality if production, storage and branding continue to improve.

The permanent seat carries economic importance because Pakistan is looking to diversify agriculture, reduce edible oil import dependence and create new income opportunities for farmers in suitable regions. Olive cultivation can support rural development in areas where climate, terrain and water conditions make conventional crops less viable.

The next phase will depend on how effectively Pakistan uses its council membership to attract technical support, improve certification, strengthen farmer training and develop export-ready olive products. With formal representation now secured, the challenge will be turning diplomatic recognition into measurable gains for growers, processors and Pakistan’s broader agribusiness economy.