KARACHI: Pakistan is a huge market for imports of edible oil and oilseeds as the country’s total requirement is around 3.5 million tons per annum.
This was revealed by Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, while speaking at the first global edible oil conference in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is geographically ideally located for the third country trade and to those countries which are landlocked.
Rana Tanveer said that in the time ahead the local production will also increase. He said, “We are fortunate to have excellent logistics for the import of edible oils, we have seaports – Karachi Port and Port Qasim. Gwadar which is the third one, is progressing well and will be a future destination for import of oils.”
Tanveer said he would encourage the country’s associations to suggest ways and means to supply end-products like ghee and cooking oil to landlocked countries which will give Pakistan additional markets for export of end-products.
The minister was of the view that since “our indigenous production is very slow, Pakistan has to remain dependent on the import of edible oils and oilseeds. The government is undertaking efforts to increase the local cultivation”.
He stated, “Our priority crops are cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane,” adding that the government do increase support price for the farmers to grow more cotton, rapeseed and sunflower seed locally.
