Web Desk
The International Olive Council (IOC) believes that Pakistan possesses ‘huge potential of producing olive oil’ that would not only help meet its ever-increasing domestic consumption but would also make it a big olive oil exporting country.
“Pakistan government is taking it serious now and that is why we are here to provide support to the government in getting certification of olive oil, installing laboratories and to plant the varieties suitable to Pakistani environment, ”Director IOC Abdel Latif Khadira while talking to Pakistani media in the capital, Islamabad on Thursday.
Khadira who is currently on a visit to Pakistan on request of Pakistan Oil Seeds Development Board (POSDB) said that the IOC had invited Pakistan in the next meeting as an observer member to mull over offering Pakistan full membership.
Keeping in view the Pakistan’s huge potential and commitment of the Pakistan government in promoting olive sector, the IOC Director said “we are also looking forward to include Pakistan as a regular member state of the Council “.
The IOC is the world’s only international intergovernmental organisation in the field of olive oil and table olives. It was set up in the Spanish capital, Madrid in 1959, under the auspices of the United Nations.
Khadira said that the IOC had 17 member countries which include the leading international producers and exporters of olive oil and table olives. The IOC producer members account for 98% of world olive production, located primarily in the Mediterranean region.
