The government has announced an exciting international training opportunity for 100 young Pakistani agricultural graduates, who will be sent to Italy to learn modern techniques in olive farming and the olive oil industry.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement while launching Pakistan’s National Olive Value Chain Policy. The selected graduates will receive advanced training in areas including olive cultivation, processing, marketing, and value chain development.
The initiative aims to give young agriculture professionals practical exposure to Italy’s modern olive industry and help bring international expertise back to Pakistan.
The Prime Minister highlighted the growing potential of olive farming in Pakistan, noting that olive cultivation has already expanded to around 60,000 acres across the country.
He said Pakistan spends around $4 billion every year on edible oil imports, stressing that increasing local production could significantly reduce this burden.
The government plans to strengthen cooperation with Italy in agriculture, modern processing, value addition, and tractor manufacturing. The partnership is also expected to support the development of Pakistan’s olive sector and create new opportunities for farmers and young professionals.
The training program is part of wider government efforts to modernize agriculture, increase domestic edible oil production, and develop skilled professionals for Pakistan’s growing olive industry.
