Olive oil processing centre inaugurated

Governor Agha says 30% of it being extracted in Balochistan

QUETTA:

Lauding the initiative undertaken by five public sector universities in Balochistan to plant olive groves on 500 acres of land, Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha on Monday said it was a positive step as numerous districts of the province were suitable for olive cultivation.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the latest olive oil processing center at the Balochistan Agricultural Research and Development Center, the governor said 70 per cent olive cultivation of the country is being done in Balochistan.

“Thirty per cent olive oil is being extracted in Balochistan during the present era and olive oil is currently sold at three thousand per liter. My services are always available for the completion of any project which is for the benefit of the people,” he added.

Governor Agha further said the government would spend Rs600 billion on development projects in Balochistan to improve the living standard of locals. ”It was the responsibility of all agencies to provide guidance, assistance and access to the international market to the landowners of the province.”

It is pertinent to note that Balochistan has great potential for modernisation of agriculture and livestock sectors.

Earlier, the governor was informed in a briefing that the project worth Rs2 billion would provide machinery and other facilities to the farmers of Balochistan. This is followed by another project costing Rs4 billion in which farmers will be imparted three months training.

Both the projects are being launched from Balochistan.

Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Council Dr Ghulam Ali, FAO representatives Waleed Mehdi, Sabai, MD of Pak Oil Seeds Department Dr Khair Muhammad Kakar, Dr Nadeem Sadiq and Director Research Javed Tareen
were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2022.