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 Pakistan has joined the International Olive Council (IOC), an intergovernmental organisation of countries that make olives or products obtained from olives.

The council has already 18 members, the majority of them are European and Middle Eastern countries from the Mediterranean region. Pakistan has become the organization"s nineteenth member, following a visit by IOC Executive Director Abdul Latif Ghadira in October, which was followed by a visit by a Pakistani delegation to the IOC"s headquarters in February.

Pakistan presently has 3.6 million olive plants spread across 31,000 acres of land, with ambitions to expand to 75,000 acres. According to Strategic Consultants" Juan Vilar, Pakistan produces 1,500 tonnes of olive oil and 830 tonnes of table olives per year.

The full membership of Pakistan would improve international cooperation, bring the Pakistani olive oil business closer to the council, and encourage the use of IOC standards in global markets. The council, which yearly funds the national projects of its member countries, is expected to provide cash to Pakistan"s olive development programme.

The previous administration initiated the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami program in 2014, which ignited a stealthy olive revolution in Pakistan. The government is pursuing many olive development projects, according to the Ministries of National Food Regarding the Climate Change. These efforts will assist Pakistan in becoming self-sufficient in olive production and, in the future, be able to export olives. Pakistan is the third-largest importer of cooking oil in the world, with $2.1 billion in palm oil imports in 2020-21. It will be able to apply the most up-to-date techniques and procedures to boost its olive production thanks to the IOC"s certification.