ISLAMABAD: The Italian government has announced to give Pakistan 20 million euros for olive plantation in the country.
The announcement was made by Italian Ambassador Stefano Pontecrvo in a meeting with the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms Ahsan Iqbal.
The ambassador was leading a delegation of Italian olive sector experts who discussed the assistance of Italy in olive plantation project in details. Italian ambassador informed federal minister about Italian experts who will stay in Pakistan for one-and-a-half months to meet with the relevant authorities and experts for formulation of policy recommendations for implementation of its technical assistance programme. He assured the continued assistance of Italy in olive plantation project and opportunities to train Pakistani farmers and experts in olive growing and extraction.
The government of Pakistan last year launched a programme for making olive plantation part of agriculture base of country. The olive plantation project is worth Rs 2 billion which will help to cultivate olive plants on more than 50,000 acres under the Vision 2025.
Ahsan Iqbal told the delegation Italy’s assistance will be critical in making this project a success. Minister said that government is focusing on developing full value-chain for olive products. Pakistan has huge potential for olive cultivation particularly in Potohar in belt, FATA and Balochistan.
The minister said that Olive Plantation Project is a flagship project of Vision-2025 to promote value-added and desired to see it as a monument of friendship between Italy and Pakistan. He said that Italy should assist Pakistan in cultivation and plantation but also in creating ecosystem of olive cultivation to make it sustainable.
