Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Highlighting the role and importance of Olive fruit, oil and other byproducts a two-day National olive festival was kicked off at the heart of Olive Valley – Chakwal on Saturday.
Growers of Olive from parts of Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab besides scientists and International experts are participating.
Inaugurating the moot, Commissioner Rawalpindi, Muhammad Mahmood highlighted the need for involving private sector right from growing, production of products, by products and supply chain while the role of the government should be confined to training and policy making to achieve an ultimate success of the sector. Recalling his role as Secretary Agriculture Punjab, he said that he had played vital role in promotion of this edible oil producing fruit. Speaking on the occasion Chief Executive Punjab Agriculture Research Board, (PARB) Chaudary Abid Mahmood said that Pakistan would attain ataurcy in production of olive oil by 2024.
“We have been importing about 4,000 tonnes of olive oil annually to meet the national requirement”, he said. National Director Olive, Dr. Muhammad Tariq welcomed the participants and gave run down of the introduction of olive plant.
