Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday made his way to the Nowshera district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to lay the foundation of Pakistan’s venture into the olive plantation, something not native to this agricultural land.
“Planting olives can bring foreign exchange into Pakistan,” said Prime Minister Imran Khan, speaking after launching the olive plantation campaign.
Imran Khan said that the olive plantation is part of the ten billion tree Tsunami program.
PM Khan was accompanied by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, and Special Assistant on Climate Change Amin Aslam.
While speaking Prime Minister spoke about the importance of olives. He said the impact of olive production will not help just KP, but all of Pakistan.
The premier pointed out that food security is one of Pakistan’s biggest challenges.
Prime Minister added, “There was a time Pakistan was exporting wheat, but this year Pakistan had to import four million tonnes of wheat.
Imran Khan further said that We already import edible oils like ghee and palm oils. Our biggest challenge in the coming days is how we will provide our people with food and good nutrition.
The premier then said that the 10 billion Tsunami project will protect our future generations, he urged the youth of Pakistan to contribute to the project for their own sake.
He then spoke about the challenge of foreign exchange reserves and emphasised the difference in the country’s import and export figures.
The third challenge of Pakistan is climate change, he said, adding that the country’s increasing population needs to be provided with employment.
“Pollution is fast increasing in our cities,” he said
Olives can bring foreign exchange into Pakistan, he said, reasoning that it could save the country funds.
The government is giving priority to olive cultivation which will not only make the farmers prosper but also help save foreign exchange.
Pakistan spends a lot on the import of edible oil that can be reduced with the production of olive oil locally by planting olive trees particularly on the western bank of the Sindh River, he said.
The production of olive oil can also generate new jobs and flourish businesses in the country.
