Balochistan's olive oil shines at global contest
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, hailed the international recognition of Pakistani olive oil as a landmark achievement aligned with the ministry's vision of agricultural self-sufficiency.
According to a press statement released on Tuesday, the minister referred to the news of Loralai Olives — a premium olive oil brand from Balochistan's Loralai district — winning the Silver Award at the 2025 New York International Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest. Out of over 1,200 global entries, Loralai Olives was recognised for its quality, sustainable production, and packaging.
'This global recognition is a proud moment for every Pakistani and validates our long-standing efforts to build a self-reliant agriculture sector,' said Tanveer.
He credited the government's Olive Cultivation Initiative, launched in 2012, which provided certified saplings, extraction units, training, and export support.
Loralai Olives, or 'LO,' partnered with Balochistan growers and used cold extraction technology, meeting international standards for acidity, purity, and flavour.
'At a time when Pakistan imports $4.5 billion worth of edible oil annually, this recognition proves we have the land, climate, and talent to reverse that trend,' said the minister.ederal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, hailed the international recognition of Pakistani olive oil as a landmark achievement aligned with the ministry's vision of agricultural self-sufficiency.
According to a press statement released on Tuesday, the minister referred to the news of Loralai Olives — a premium olive oil brand from Balochistan's Loralai district — winning the Silver Award at the 2025 New York International Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest. Out of over 1,200 global entries, Loralai Olives was recognised for its quality, sustainable production, and packaging.
'This global recognition is a proud moment for every Pakistani and validates our long-standing efforts to build a self-reliant agriculture sector,' said Tanveer.
He credited the government's Olive Cultivation Initiative, launched in 2012, which provided certified saplings, extraction units, training, and export support.
Loralai Olives, or 'LO,' partnered with Balochistan growers and used cold extraction technology, meeting international standards for acidity, purity, and flavour.
'At a time when Pakistan imports $4.5 billion worth of edible oil annually, this recognition proves we have the land, climate, and talent to reverse that trend,' said the minister.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
US fund taps Pakistani tech duo with $10mn to lead startup investment initiative
The JR Dallas Tech Fund has announced $10 million investment to Pakistani technology leaders Mehwish Salman Ali and Malik Mudassir, entrusting them to inject the fund into exclusive US-focused startup investment initiatives, Business Recorder learnt on Friday. 'Under this landmark agreement, Ali and Mudassir will receive $10 million in dedicated capital to identify, evaluate, and invest in high-potential startups planning to scale operations in the United States. The duo will serve as lead investment partners with full authority to deploy capital across artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, digital health, and frontier technology ventures,' a press statement read. 'We are entrusting $10 million to two of the most visionary technology leaders of our generation,' said Jehangir A. Raja, Managing Partner at JR Dallas Tech Fund, which is the premier private investment arm of the US-based JR Dallas Wealth Management. Forbes Technology Council: Pakistani-origin Mehwish selected as member The two Pakistani technology leaders are running their offices in Karachi and Lahore. They represent 'perfect combination of technical expertise, entrepreneurial success, and strategic vision needed to identify the next generation of game-changing startups ready to conquer the American market,' Raja added. Mehwish Ali is a founding CEO of Data Vault that is claimed to be Pakistan's first solar-powered and quantum-encrypted AI data center. She is a co-founder of Zahanat AI, the country's first indigenous GPT model, and COO of AppsGenii Technologies. She is a TEDx speaker and Forbes Technology Council member. Mudassir is founding CEO of AppsGenii Technologies, operating across the US, UK, and Pakistan. He is a co-founder of ventures including GharPar, BoxesGen, and Dental Connect. He is also a member of the Central Executive Committee at P@SHA (Pakistan Software Houses Association). According to the statement, the $10 million fund operates under a rigorous investment framework designed to maximise both financial returns and economic impact. Startup Neem enters logistics space with Leopards Courier Services partnership The investment is targeted to be in the range of $250,000 to $1.5 million per startup. The investment should be focused in the sectors like AI/machine learning, cloud infrastructure, digital health, quantum computing and cybersecurity. The investor is aimed at investing the entire fund into 15-20 select companies over a period of two-year in the US-focused projects. The funding is projected to enable portfolio companies to create direct jobs, generating 300-500 high-skilled technology positions within 24 months. Strengthening Texas as a hub for international tech talent entering the US market. Accelerating breakthrough technologies in AI, healthcare, and cloud infrastructure. 'Portfolio companies (are) projected to contribute $50-100 million in US economic activity within three years,' the statement read.
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz, FM Munir perform Umrah, express gratitude for "Bunyan-um-Marsoos" victory
The Pakistani leadership also prayed for the wellbeing of oppressed Muslim communities around the world, with particular mention of the people of Kashmir and Palestine. PHOTO: APP Listen to article Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and senior members of his cabinet, performed Umrah late Thursday night during an official visit to Saudi Arabia. The high-profile visit, conducted at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscores the strengthening ties between Islamabad and Riyadh amid growing regional and economic cooperation. In a rare gesture, the door of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah was specially opened for the visiting Pakistani delegation. The leaders offered Nawafil prayers and expressed gratitude for what they described as the success of 'Bunyan-ul-Marsoos,' a reference to ongoing efforts for national unity and resilience. During the sacred pilgrimage, the Prime Minister and his delegation also offered special prayers of thanks for recent developments in Pakistan's economic and social sectors. Supplications were made for the nation's continued prosperity and stability. The Pakistani leadership also prayed for the wellbeing of oppressed Muslim communities around the world, with particular mention of the people of Kashmir and Palestine. The Prime Minister was accompanied by key ministers including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. The visit marks another chapter in Pakistan's long-standing relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, built on shared religious, cultural, and strategic interests.
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
WB readjusts poverty line in Pakistan at 44.7%
Listen to article The World Bank has adjusted upward the income levels in an effort to measure global poverty, which has also pushed the percentage of Pakistanis living in poverty by to 44.7% — an outcome that may not still be fully reflecting the harsh ground realities due to the use of seven years old survey data. The Washington-based lender on Thursday released its new international poverty line to reflect changes in the prices of goods and services and their implications on the global population. The new poverty line for Pakistan, which is a lower middle-income country, is set at $4.20 per person per day, up from $3.65, said Christina Wieser, the senior poverty economist of the World Bank while briefing the media persons here. She said that due to the upward revision, for the lower middle income level, the poverty ratio has jumped from 39.8% of the old level to 44.7% on the threshold of $4.20 per day income. The World Bank has also updated the extreme poverty line from $2.15 to $3 per person per day. Because of the revision in the threshold, 16.5% of the Pakistani population lives in extreme poverty, up from 4.9% under the previous $2.15 threshold, said Christina. She said that one of the reasons for such a high jump was that the majority of the people were clustered around $2.15 to $3 per day income level, which resulted into a significant surge. About 82% of this increase in extreme poverty is due to the higher value of the new international poverty line reflecting increases in the national poverty lines of comparator countries, with the rest explained by price increases in Pakistan between 2017 and 2021, according to the World Bank. The World Bank has not used the latest population census data and instead relied on the United Nations population dataset. Christina also added that the underlying Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2018/19 data has been used for both national and international estimates. While international poverty lines are essential for tracking global progress and comparisons, national lines remain more appropriate for informing country-specific policy decisions, said the senior economist. Anything that has affected since 2019 is not included in either Covid-19 or 2022 floods, as the baseline remains the same, said Christina while responding to a question. We are desperately looking forward to the new household integrated economic survey to update our baseline, she added. The local economists had estimated a sharp rise in poverty after the 2022 floods, which inundated one-fourth of the country and adversely impacted populations in three provinces. These updates to the international poverty lines ensure that poverty estimates remain accurate and comparable across countries. The methodology remains consistent with past updates, continuing a practice that began with the introduction of the dollar-a-day line in 1990, according to the World Bank economist. "The revisions help position Pakistan's poverty levels in a global context and underscore the importance of continued efforts to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience," said Najy Benhassine, the outgoing World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. For domestic policy and programme targeting, the national poverty line remains unchanged and continues to serve as the primary benchmark for assessing poverty within Pakistan, Christina said. The forthcoming World Bank Poverty, Equity, and Resilience Assessment for Pakistan will provide critical context for interpreting these updated poverty estimates, she added. The report would offer a detailed update on poverty, inequality, and non-monetary outcomes, will investigate key drivers of poverty, and outline a forward-looking agenda to enhance prosperity and resilience for all Pakistanis. According to the government's last official available numbers, which are based on the 2018-19 survey, 21.9% of the population was living below the national poverty line. However, because national poverty lines differ widely, the resulting poverty rates are not comparable internationally. The need for new international poverty lines arises from the evolving price levels and cost of basic needs across the world and within income groups, according to Christina Wieser. To maintain accurate global comparisons, the World Bank periodically updates these poverty lines. International poverty estimates are based on the headcount of people with consumption below the international poverty line, defined in purchasing power parities (PPPs). Pakistan is among the countries experiencing the largest changes in poverty when transitioning to the 2021 PPPs based on the Low-Income International Poverty Line, according to the World Bank. The World Bank said that the international poverty line should be used only for cross-country comparison and analysis; for evaluating poverty in a particular country (Pakistan), the national poverty line remains the appropriate standard. The revisions help position Pakistan's poverty levels in a global context and underscore the importance of continued efforts to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience, The new figures reflect updated international thresholds and improved data from other countries, not deterioration in living standards, according to Christina.
