Pakistan has officially taken its seat as a permanent member of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the country’s olive sector.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain led the Pakistani delegation at the 123rd Session of the International Olive Council in Lisbon, Portugal. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Portugal, Ayesha Farooqi, also attended the meeting.
After securing IOC membership in May 2026, Pakistan was invited to participate as a permanent member alongside 27 other olive-producing countries.
The IOC Executive Director, the Council’s Chair and member states welcomed Pakistan during the session.
Addressing the meeting, Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the council’s objectives and promoting the sustainable development of the global olive sector.
He said more than 7 million olive trees have been planted across 55,669 acres in Pakistan, with olive cultivation clusters continuing to expand nationwide.
The minister added that Pakistan has established a complete farm-to-fork value chain, including 51 modern olive oil extraction units, processing facilities, nurseries, climate monitoring centers and four IOC-standard laboratories.
He also noted that Pakistan has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of certified olive saplings and won a Silver Award at last year’s New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC).
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to contributing to environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient and responsible growth of the global olive oil and table olive industry through its membership in the International Olive Council.
