Pakistan and Italy sign pact on olive cultivation

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Pakistan Italian Debt-for-Development Swap Agreement (PIDSA) have signed an agreement for execution of the project Promotion of olive cultivation for economic development and poverty alleviation, costing Rs382 million. The project aims to increase the local production of edible oil in order to reduce the imports and save foreign exchange. Olive plantation will generate direct and indirect job opportunities contributing to poverty alleviation, making use of waste, marginal and forestlands and sub-mountainous areas.