Pakistan is preparing to send 100 young agricultural graduates to Italy for specialised training as part of efforts to modernise the country’s olive industry and develop new opportunities for young professionals.
The trainees will receive practical and advanced knowledge in areas including olive farming, oil processing, marketing and value chain management. The programme is expected to give Pakistani graduates exposure to modern techniques that can later be applied within the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the initiative during the launch of Pakistan’s National Olive Value Chain Policy. He highlighted the importance of developing skilled human resources alongside expanding olive cultivation.
Pakistan currently has olive plantations spread across around 60,000 acres. The government wants to increase production and strengthen the complete supply chain, from cultivation to processing and export.
The training programme is also linked to Pakistan’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported edible oil. The country spends around $4 billion each year on edible oil imports, and the government believes increasing local production could help reduce this financial burden.
The prime minister encouraged greater cultivation of olives, palm oil and sunflower as part of a broader strategy to increase domestic oil production.
He also acknowledged the contribution of farmers, researchers and exporters to the development of Pakistan’s olive sector and appreciated provincial governments for supporting cultivation initiatives.
Pakistan and Italy are also looking to expand cooperation in agriculture, tractor manufacturing and other related areas. Future collaboration is expected to focus on modern olive production, processing and value addition.
The government has said that federal and provincial authorities will work together to improve facilities and support for farmers.
The overseas training initiative is expected to help young graduates gain international experience while creating a skilled workforce capable of supporting Pakistan’s agricultural transformation.
