Pakistani Olive Oil Brand Makes History at World Competition - Olive Oil Times



https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/production/pakistani-olive-oil-brand-...

Summary
Loralai Olives, the first Pakistani brand to be recognized at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, is focused on producing high-quality olive oil through strict control over the production process, sustainable farming methods, and international quality certifications. The company’s success is expected to open new marketing and export opportunities, ultimately benefiting local farmers and the economy in rural Balochistan, while also inspiring Pakistan to become a leading force in the global olive oil industry.

With the right weather, good land and a dedicated team, Loralai Olives has made history as the first Pakistani brand to be recognized at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world’s largest olive oil quality contest.

“We dreamed of Pakistan being recognized among the leading olive-producing nations. To achieve that, it was clear that a top-class, internationally competitive brand was necessary,” said Shaukat Rasool, the chief executive and co-founder of Loralai Olives.

Spread across more than 40 hectares, the farm is planted with Coratina and Arbequina olives, chosen after years of research on what varieties would thrive in the unique terrain.



It reaffirms a belief we have carried from day one: with passion, precision, and purity, world-class quality can rise from anywhere — even from the remote hills of Balochistan.
- Shaukat Rasool, CEO, Loralai Olives
“The creation of Loralai Olives was inspired by the incredible transformation underway in Pakistan’s agriculture sector, especially through the government’s flagship initiatives promoting olive farming,” Rasool said.

“With strong public-private partnerships, millions of olive trees have been planted across the country,” he added. “The government has been actively supporting this movement by providing olive plants, modern irrigation systems, extraction facilities and storage infrastructure — laying the foundation for a thriving olive oil industry.”

For his part, Rasool chose to plant his olive trees in Loralai, Balochistan, because of the favorable soil and climate conditions, along with the elevation.

“The region’s dry, temperate climate and long sunlight hours create the perfect environment to grow olives with exceptional flavor profiles and high oil content,” he said. “However, our vision is not limited to Balochistan alone.”

“Pakistan is blessed with diverse climatic zones, offering ideal conditions for olive farming in several regions,” he added. “Alongside Loralai, we are actively working in Pothohar Plateau and other suitable areas, building a nationwide movement for high-quality olive production.”

Rasool said the key to the company’s successful production this year was maintaining strict control over every step of the process.

“Our teams continuously monitor the orchards, carefully inspecting the trees to ensure the fruit remains healthy, free from faults and harvested at the optimal stage of ripeness,” he said. “Once ready, the olives are hand-harvested with great care and immediately transported to state-of-the-art extraction mills supported by the government of Pakistan.”

“By minimizing the time between picking and extraction, we preserve the freshness, nutritional value and flavor of the olives,” Rasool added. “This meticulous orchard-to-mill approach allows us to produce extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality.”

Post-production, the oil is stored in temperature-controlled stainless steel containers to maintain freshness and quality. Rasool also works with a group company to store the oil properly until it reaches the market.

“For packaging, we only use dark-colored glass and ceramic bottles to protect the oil from light and preserve its purity,” he said. “Finally, every batch goes through lab testing to ensure it meets international extra virgin olive oil standards for acidity, purity and sensory quality.”

Pakistan sets up over 50 extraction units, 90 startups to boost olive production | Arab News

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623485/pakistan


Pakistan has 10 million acres of land suitable for olive farming but only 55,000 acres have been developed so far
Officials say the olive sector offers a promising alternative to more than $3 billion imports of edible oil annually
KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday said the country has established 51 olive extraction units, four laboratories and launched more than 90 startups, in a push to develop a profitable olive industry.

The food security minister made the remarks while addressing a World Olive Day event held during the 122nd Session of the International Olive Council (IOC) in Córdoba, Spain.

Pakistan has about 10 million acres of land suitable for olive farming but only 55,000 acres have been developed so far, according to data shared at Pakistan Olive Summit 2.0 held last month.

Of the 1.3 billion olive plants required, only about seven million have been planted so far. At full production capacity, the sector could generate more than $3 billion annually in olive oil exports.

“Pakistan has now established 51 olive oil extraction units, six fruit processing facilities, five weather stations, fourteen nurseries, and four olive oil quality laboratories, including a sensory evaluation laboratory to support scientific excellence and quality assurance,” Hussain was quoted as saying by his ministry.

“Thousands of women and youth have received training in various segments of the olive value chain, and more than 90 entrepreneurs have successfully launched olive-based startups, contributing to rural livelihoods, local economic growth, and value addition.”

Pakistan spends more than $3 billion a year on edible oil imports, according to government data. Officials say the olive sector offers a promising alternative, particularly in the northwestern and Potohar regions, where climate conditions are well suited for cultivation.

In October, the country hosted Pakistan Olive Summit 2.0 in Islamabad, aimed at accelerating investment and innovation in the emerging olive sector.

Hussain noted the recognition of Pakistani startup “LO – Loralai Olives” with a silver award at the New York Olive Oil Quality Competition this year.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of Pakistani farmers, researchers, and young innovators who are shaping the future of the olive industry,” he added.

China’s canola bet in Pakistan targets $4 billion oilseed import bill

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/02/16/chinas-canola-bet-in...

Cooking oil is the kind of purchase that feels too ordinary to carry national consequences. It is there in every kitchen, measured in litres and rupees, bought in tins that last a month or a week depending on household size, and argued over in the same way groceries always are: price first, then taste, then whatever people have started calling “healthy” this year.




Yet behind that routine sits a number that refuses to behave like a routine. Pakistan imports about 90% of its edible oil and spends roughly $4 billion a year on it. In a country where dollars are never a neutral input, that bill is not just a food story. It is an annual claim on foreign exchange that shows up in trade data, in policy improvisation, and eventually in the price of everyday meals.

The question is not whether Pakistan wants to be less dependent. It is whether it can be. And in the pitch being made by Chinese companies operating under the broader arc of China–Pakistan economic cooperation, the route to “self-reliance” is not a single breakthrough crop or a one-off subsidy. According to Zhou Xusheng, country director of Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Agricultural Development Company, which is working in Pakistan on seed and agri-technology projects with local partners including Evyol Group, the answer is seeds, machines, and a supply chain that keeps more value inside the farm gate.