For decades, Pakistan’s agricultural story was dominated by the “big three”: wheat, cotton, and sugarcane. But a new competitor is quietly establishing itself in the drylands of the Potohar region and beyond. The lowly olive tree, traditionally identified as the Mediterranean, is proving to be more than just a decorative plant in Pakistan; it is the sign of economic independence.
The imperative behind this change is highlighted by appalling economic statistics. During the 2024-25 fiscal year, Pakistan imported more than $8.1 billion worth of food, and palm oil accounted for about $3.4 billion. Although the country has been hugely dependent on imports, Pakistan has about 10 million acres of land that is conducive to the growth of olives, which is almost twice the viable acreage of Spain. It is based on this paradox that national agricultural policy needs to change.
The Geography of Opportunity
Pakistan has a topography that is diverse and simulates the perfect conditions of Olea europaea. Although Italy and Spain are classical giants, Pakistan has huge areas of wasteland in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan, which are climatically favorable to olive groves.
The Punjab Agriculture Department has given the Potohar region, which comprises areas of Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Attock, the title of an Olive Valley. Other than Potohar, the rugged Zhob and Loralai regions of Balochistan have untapped potential. The olives are also extremely drought-resistant, and unlike water-intensive crops, this makes them the ideal crop that should be introduced to a country that experiences growing water scarcities.
Economic Sovereignty and the Import Bill
The strongest point in favor of a national olive push is purely mathematical. In the present scenario, Pakistan is importing close to 70% to 90% of its edible oil needs. The country has the potential to produce more than $3 billion in export earnings each year by turning at least a fraction of the one-tenth of its arable land into olive and cherry orchards. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) fetches a large price in the international market when compared to palm oil or soybean oil, giving them a high-value commodity to offer to health-conscious markets.
The Loralai Success Story
The rise of the Loralai Olive Oil Company (LO) was a pivotal moment in the industry. LO, sourced in the mineral-rich soils of Balochistan, has shifted the needle between potential and proven quality. In May 2025, the brand turned history and won a Silver Award in the New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC), the most prestigious olive oil contest in the world.
The success of its Arbequina and Coratina variants in Loralai, on a 40-hectare farm, has proved that the Pakistani soil can yield oil that surpasses the international standards. Through the modern cold-press technique and a concentration on the purity of Liquid Gold, Loralai Olive Oil has become the template of how local companies can skip the middlemen and take the high price in the international market.
Challenges in the Journey of Olive Superpower
In spite of the promise, the journey to the olive superpower is a hard one because of a number of systemic factors. First of all, the fact that the olive tree has a long gestation period, which can last three to five years to reach maturity, means that small-scale farmers need considerable financial cushions or government subsidies to sustain themselves during the first number of years without a crop.
Moreover, the required processing infrastructure should be scaled quickly. To manage the estimated 16000 tons of production in the year 2027, the government is struggling to further increase its network, which already has 51 extraction units and 4 quality laboratories. Another vital challenge is global integration; Pakistan is an observer in the International Olive Council (IOC), and it is also working towards becoming a full member so as to be able to conform to the globalization of trade and international research networks.
A Call for Strategic Vision
Switching to the Olive-First strategy needs a comprehensive ecosystem. The government is in the process of developing the National Olive Plan 2030 that aims at research, investment, and international collaboration. With the momentum of the 50 Million Olive Tree project, Pakistan is slowly heading in the direction of sowing the seeds of an independent economy.
The potential is not just a hypothetical discussion anymore; it is a reality recognized by international experts and award-winning local brands like LO. When we plant now, we do not plant a crop; we are planting a better, stronger tomorrow for the next generation.
