Pakistan has prepared a strategic plan to reduce its dependence on imported edible oil and achieve 70% self-sufficiency by 2035 through expanded local oilseed production and olive cultivation.
According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research’s Year Book 2024-25, the Pakistan Oilseed Department has prepared a Strategic Development Plan to meet 70% of the country’s edible oil requirement through domestic production by 2035, said a press release.
The plan aims to raise annual edible oil production and import substitution to more than 4.578 million tonnes by 2035. In monetary terms, this could provide import substitution of $7.017 billion per year.
Pakistan remains heavily dependent on imported edible oil. During FY2024-25, the country imported 4.169 million tonnes of edible oil, including 0.542 million tonnes extracted from imported oilseeds. The imports were valued at Rs1,407 billion, or $4.971 billion.