Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
05/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/12/2026 09:09
PR No. 105 Rana Tanveer Hussain Secures Historic IOC Membership for Pakistan Pakist
In a landmark achievement for Pakistan's agriculture sector under the leadership and persistent efforts of Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Pakistan has formally become a full member of the International Olive Council (IOC), the world's premier intergovernmental organization for olive oil and table olives.
The Instrument of Accession to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 was signed at the IOC Headquarters in Madrid by Pakistan's Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, in the presence of IOC Executive Director Mr. Jaime Lillo. The signed instrument will now be deposited with the United Nations Treaty Section, completing the formal treaty process. Pakistan is expected to participate as a full member in the 123rd Session of the IOC Council of Members in June 2026.
This historic achievement became possible due to the sustained diplomatic engagement, strategic vision, and dedicated efforts of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who personally led Pakistan's candidature before the IOC Council of Members during its 122nd Session in Córdoba last year, where Pakistan participated as an observer state.
Pakistan's accession to the IOC is being viewed as a transformative milestone for the country's emerging olive industry. As a full member of the organization representing nearly 98 percent of global olive oil production, Pakistan will now gain direct access to international quality standards, certification systems, advanced research, technical cooperation, global training opportunities, and premium export markets.
IOC membership will enable Pakistani olive oil and table olives to be graded under internationally recognized standards, paving the way for Pakistani Extra Virgin Olive Oil to enter high-value markets in Europe, the Gulf region, North America, and East Asia with greater credibility and reduced trade barriers.
The membership will also provide Pakistani farmers, millers, and researchers opportunities for technical training, international exchange programs, scholarships, and collaborative research initiatives with leading institutions including CIHEAM Zaragoza, the University of Jaén, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and the Olive Health Information System.
Pakistani olive producers will now become eligible to participate in prestigious international competitions, including the globally recognized Mario Solinas Quality Award, strengthening Pakistan's international branding and export potential in the olive sector.
Expressing satisfaction over the historic development, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stated:
"Today Pakistan takes its rightful place at the global olive table. This achievement reflects the vision, commitment, and hard work of the Government of Pakistan and thousands of hardworking olive farmers across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pothohar, Sindh, and AJK. IOC membership is not merely symbolic; it is a strategic milestone that will help transform olive cultivation into a major pillar of edible oil self-sufficiency, rural prosperity, climate resilience, and high-value agricultural exports. Pakistani olive oil now has the opportunity to compete with the finest olive oils in the world."
Pakistan has identified more than 4.4 million hectares of land suitable for olive cultivation across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab's Pothohar region, Sindh, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Under the initiatives of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, large-scale olive plantations, nurseries, extraction units, and farmer training programs have been established across the country to promote olive cultivation as a sustainable and climate-resilient crop.
Concluding his remarks, the Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the Government's unwavering commitment to promoting Pakistan's olive sector and stated that this historic accession would serve as a catalyst for investment, innovation, export growth, and sustainable agricultural development. He said the Government would continue working closely with farmers, researchers, processors, and international partners to ensure that Pakistan emerges as a globally recognized producer of high-quality olive oil in the years ahead.
The Instrument of Accession to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 was signed at the IOC Headquarters in Madrid by Pakistan's Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, in the presence of IOC Executive Director Mr. Jaime Lillo. The signed instrument will now be deposited with the United Nations Treaty Section, completing the formal treaty process. Pakistan is expected to participate as a full member in the 123rd Session of the IOC Council of Members in June 2026.
This historic achievement became possible due to the sustained diplomatic engagement, strategic vision, and dedicated efforts of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who personally led Pakistan's candidature before the IOC Council of Members during its 122nd Session in Córdoba last year, where Pakistan participated as an observer state.
Pakistan's accession to the IOC is being viewed as a transformative milestone for the country's emerging olive industry. As a full member of the organization representing nearly 98 percent of global olive oil production, Pakistan will now gain direct access to international quality standards, certification systems, advanced research, technical cooperation, global training opportunities, and premium export markets.
IOC membership will enable Pakistani olive oil and table olives to be graded under internationally recognized standards, paving the way for Pakistani Extra Virgin Olive Oil to enter high-value markets in Europe, the Gulf region, North America, and East Asia with greater credibility and reduced trade barriers.
The membership will also provide Pakistani farmers, millers, and researchers opportunities for technical training, international exchange programs, scholarships, and collaborative research initiatives with leading institutions including CIHEAM Zaragoza, the University of Jaén, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and the Olive Health Information System.
Pakistani olive producers will now become eligible to participate in prestigious international competitions, including the globally recognized Mario Solinas Quality Award, strengthening Pakistan's international branding and export potential in the olive sector.
Expressing satisfaction over the historic development, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stated:
"Today Pakistan takes its rightful place at the global olive table. This achievement reflects the vision, commitment, and hard work of the Government of Pakistan and thousands of hardworking olive farmers across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pothohar, Sindh, and AJK. IOC membership is not merely symbolic; it is a strategic milestone that will help transform olive cultivation into a major pillar of edible oil self-sufficiency, rural prosperity, climate resilience, and high-value agricultural exports. Pakistani olive oil now has the opportunity to compete with the finest olive oils in the world."
Pakistan has identified more than 4.4 million hectares of land suitable for olive cultivation across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab's Pothohar region, Sindh, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Under the initiatives of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, large-scale olive plantations, nurseries, extraction units, and farmer training programs have been established across the country to promote olive cultivation as a sustainable and climate-resilient crop.
Concluding his remarks, the Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the Government's unwavering commitment to promoting Pakistan's olive sector and stated that this historic accession would serve as a catalyst for investment, innovation, export growth, and sustainable agricultural development. He said the Government would continue working closely with farmers, researchers, processors, and international partners to ensure that Pakistan emerges as a globally recognized producer of high-quality olive oil in the years ahead.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan published this content on May 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 12, 2026 at 15:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]