KARACHI: Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain on Tuesday said that self-sufficiency in edible oil production can help the country save $2.5 billion a year. Pakistan had been self-sustaining in edible oil for 13 years after independence but exploitation of farmers and lack of interest on part of the authorities resulted in the country having to import the commodity. He said those imports have now grown to be the second largest component after fossil fuel in which palm oil has a 90% share. He said that farmers of different oilseeds are at the mercy of middlemen, the biggest reason behind lack of interest by growers.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2015.
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