February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 23: Greek expertise has been sought to plant olive trees on a large scale and then eventually set up olive oil processing units in Pakistan. The weather conditions in the northern part of Punjab and Hazara area in the NWFP are quite similar to those in Greece.

This was stated by the commercial counsellor, embassy of Pakistan in Athens, Awais Manzur Sumra, after a meeting with Greek entrepreneurs who approached the embassy’s commercial wing to seek information on olive oil market in Pakistan.

According to a press release issued by the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan here on Saturday, the commercial counsellor said a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the filed of agriculture, olive cultivation and olive oil production between Pakistan and Greece was likely to be signed in the coming months.

The Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock has already accepted the draft of the MoU which was forwarded to the Greek authorities for finalising arrangements for its signing.

The olive oil currently being sold in Pakistani markets is imported mainly from Spain and Italy, which they mix (up to 30 per cent) Greek oil with their own product to improve its quality and then re-export it under their own brands, the press release said.