Pakistan PM launches olive plantation campaign to boost green economy

Olive plantation to create new green jobs, earn foreign exchange and ensure food security: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the olive plantation campaign at Amangarh, Nowshera-KPK under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Program where 7500 olive trees will be planted over an area of 27 hectares. The province plans 250 million new core plantations until June 2021 under the program.

Along with the Prime Minister, several other dignitaries including Special Assistant to Prime Minister Malik Amin Aslam, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir, Minister of State for Climate Change Ms. Naheed Shah Durrani, Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Ms. Rukhsana Naveed, and Parliamentary Secretary also attended the event.    

Much needed initiative

KP also plans to plant a total of four million olive trees over a period of four years, which can be used for extracting oil as well as offer fruit. As per an estimate, one tree can offer 15 kgs of fruit and 1.8 liters of olive oil. The plantation will provide the locals with job opportunities and also generate annual revenue of about 10 billion rupees in a few years’ time.  

Success in Punjab

The government also wants other provinces to follow suit and plant olives as well. A similar initiative is running fairly successfully in Punjab for the last few years as well. The production of olive in 2020-21 has been significantly higher with the plants now bearing fruit.

Government needs to step up

The government must encourage the local communities to undertake such projects. Along with facilitating the process, it must also provide finances to the low-income groups to pursue these opportunities. The public-private partnership model can also be useful.

With the will and the right approach, Pakistan can not only stop importing olives and olive oil but also start enough production to export these products to earn precious foreign exchange. The production of olive oil would also help cut the colossal edible oil import bill. It will also create more jobs, something that the economy badly needs.  

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