Pakistan has become a permanent member of the International Olive Council (IOC) for the first time, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday.

According to the FO, Pakistan assumed its seat during the IOC’s 123rd session held in Lisbon, Portugal, which was attended by 27 olive-producing countries.

A Pakistani delegation, led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, represented the country at the meeting.

The minister briefed council members on Pakistan’s rapidly expanding olive sector and highlighted the country’s efforts to promote sustainable olive production in the context of climate change, according to the FO statement.

Pakistan also reaffirmed its commitment to playing a positive and constructive role in the global olive sector and to further strengthening its presence in the international olive market.

The minister was accompanied by Pakistan’s ambassador to Portugal, Aisha Farooqui, according to a statement from the embassy.

During the session, Pakistan highlighted key developments in its olive sector, including the plantation of more than seven million olive trees across the country.

Officials said olive cultivation is currently underway on 55,669 acres of land, with olive clusters expanding rapidly.

The FO said Pakistan has established a complete “farm-to-table” value chain in the sector, along with 51 operational olive oil extraction units.

It added that modern processing facilities, nurseries and meteorological stations have been set up, along with four laboratories developed in line with IOC standards.

The country has also achieved self-sufficiency in the local production of certified olive saplings, while Pakistani olive oil has gained international recognition, the statement added.

Established in 1959, the IOC serves as an intergovernmental organisation that promotes sustainable and responsible development of the olive sector. It represents countries accounting for more than 94 per cent of global olive oil production.