ISLAMABAD - In a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan’s position within the international olive community following its accession to the International Olive Council (IOC), the inaugural session of the five-day Master Training on Olive Oil Sensory Evaluation and Panel Tasting was held at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. The training marks the launch of a strategic initiative aimed at establishing Pakistan’s first Olive Oil Sensory Evaluation and Tasting Panel, thereby enhancing national capacity in olive oil quality assessment in accordance with internationally recognized standards.
Italy Reaffirms Support
During the inaugural session, Ms Marilina Armellin, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Pakistan, reaffirmed Italy’s continued commitment to supporting the development of Pakistan’s olive sector. Referring to Pakistan’s recent accession to the International Olive Council (IOC), she highlighted the importance of strengthening local expertise and aligning with internationally recognized standards to further enhance the country’s standing within the global olive community.
Presentation of National Olive Policy
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the recently approved “Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy Along with the Implementation Strategy and Road Map” to Ambassador Marilina Armellin. The policy represents an important milestone resulting from years of close cooperation and technical engagement among national and international stakeholders. Developed through an extensive consultative process and supported by the technical efforts of the OliveCulture Scale-Up Project, the policy embodies a shared vision for the sustainable development of Pakistan’s olive sector.
Strategic Framework for Growth
By providing a strategic framework for governance, quality standards, research, value addition, and market development, the policy is expected to guide the long-term growth, competitiveness, and international positioning of Pakistan’s olive industry. The event was also attended by Ms Alia Shahid, Additional Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Government of Pakistan, who appreciated the remarkable progress achieved by the sector and acknowledged the value of the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Italy. She noted that continued collaboration and institutional support are playing a vital role in strengthening capacities and creating new opportunities for sustainable growth across the olive value chain.
This training program is a critical component of Pakistan's strategy to develop a robust olive oil sector, leveraging international expertise to meet global quality benchmarks. The establishment of a sensory evaluation panel will enable local producers to assess and certify olive oil quality, facilitating exports and enhancing consumer confidence. The collaboration with Italy, a world leader in olive oil production, underscores the commitment to knowledge transfer and capacity building.
