ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has commenced an ambitious drive to plant as many trees as possible from the 550,000 high-quality olive saplings imported from Spain recently.
A majority of those have been set aside for plantation in tribal areas, such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), since the environment in these areas is conducive to their growth, a senior official said.
As part of the project and in order to promote the cultivation of olives for commercial purposes, the Olea Europea (European olive) – a plant of a very high-quality -- has been imported. “This is expected to be planted on 50,000 acres of land in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Balochistan, KP and parts of the Potohar region in the Punjab province,” Dr. Tariq Bari, Project Director and a senior official at the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), told Arab News.
He said Bajaur and South Waziristan tribal districts and other tribal regions are most suitable for the cultivation of olive plants. He recalled a time when the grafting program was initiated with the government of Italy extending cooperation for the purpose. Unfortunately, the initiative didn’t yield any positive results.
“Under that program, around one million wild olive plants were grafted in the tribal areas. However, their survival ratio was one percent only. Therefore, we had to stop the grafting. Now we plan to cultivate new species there instead,” he said.
However, Dr. Lal Badshah, assistant professor at the Department of Botany in the University of Peshawar, told Arab News that grafting of wild olive plants is the best viable solution to ensure that the plants produce oil. Currently, they are used locally as timber for domestic use or as wood fuel.
The Olea Ferruginea can be found in millions in the tribal areas as the species normally grows at a height of 2,500 to 4,000 feet above sea-level. “This can also help alleviate poverty and oil shortage in the country on a sustainable basis,” Badshah said.
As Pakistan’s tribal areas are rich in the resource, cultivating better-quality olive plants -- to turn it into oil-yielding flora -- could help the country achieve self-reliance and export the oil to Arab countries where its demand is high, Dr. Ashiq Saleem, principal scientific officer at PARC told Arab News.
Planting high-yielding saplings would serve the purpose of the billion tree plantation drive --- initiated by Prime Minister Imran Khan -- as part of the “Green Pakistan and Clean Pakistan” vision, he added.
Earlier, the ISPR in a statement had said that the military had helped graft nearly 25,000 wild olive plants in South and North Waziristan, Kurram, Orakzai, the and Khyber tribal districts.
It stated that a huge amount of revenue -- approximately Rs. 111 billion -- could be generated through the export of olive oil, in addition to helping create 500,000 jobs.
Dr. Badshah said that olive plants are very tolerant of biological diseases and is known to be affected only by the plant parasite. He added that it is an evergreen fodder for animals, while its berry fruits are consumed by locals, too.
“In tribal areas, ours is not an oil-yielding plant but oil can be produced if it is grafted with Olea Europea. Olive oil is very nutritious being used in daily food and medicine,” he added.
According to Fazal Maula Zahid, an agricultural researcher, edible oil is Pakistan’s largest food import commodity, which ranks second on the list – following closely on the heels of petroleum products.
He said that imports of edible oil jumped from $615 million in 2006 to $3 billion in the year 2014 and 2015 respectively. “If there is a five percent hike in consumption and a five percent price increase in international markets each year, it will jump above $7 billion in the year 2020-2021,” he added.
Dr. Bari said that Pakistan is importing edible oil worth $3.5 billion annually. “We will not only [become a] self-sufficient country in oil but we will export them primarily to Arab countries if we focus on the plantation of olive species,” he added.
Dr. Saleem said that the FATA region is rich in wild olive plants where they grow in millions but these have little commercial value and are being used as firewood and timber.
The good olive varieties include arbiqina, arbasona, koroniki, frantio, pendoleno, olivine and lecino, known for producing the best olive oil variety, he said, adding that the same species could be cultivated in tribal areas to replace the wild olive plants. “Currently in Balochistan, a mature olive oil yielding plant produces 40-50 kg of fruits with the oil recovery (extraction) of 16-22 percent, depending on good management practices,” he added.
In the South Waziristan tribal district, however, wild olive plants grow on a large scale and must be replaced with the oil-yielding varieties instead. The life span of an olive tree is more than 500 years, he said, adding that cultivation of oil-producing plants would empower local women by creating job opportunities.
Dr. Bari said that the PARC has engaged the private sector to produce high-quality olive yields such as Unique Olive, Olive Foundation and Olive Pakistan to get maximum benefit from the crop.
He added that farmers have been trained for the entire process. “I think, more olive plants will multiply the businesses of tribal people, while stabilizing the national exchequer with Pakistan exporting its oil,” he added.
Dr. Badshah said that just by cultivating 10 million oil-yielding saplings in the next five years -- in the tribal areas – the government can generate nearly 30,000 tons of oil per annum.
Currently, Spain and Italy are the top olive oil export countries. However, Pakistan can enter the race if we earnestly focus on the cultivation, protection and proper utilization of our valuable resource, he added.
Pakistan hopes to yield self-reliance on olive oil with new plantation drive
https://arab.news/zwr37
Pakistan hopes to yield self-reliance on olive oil with new plantation drive
- Millions of plants could be grafted for local use and export purposes, experts say
- Country’s import bill stood at $3bn in 2015 for the resource
Pakistani authors hail Sharjah book fair as step toward bridging readers-writers gap
- The 43rd edition of Sharjah International Book Fair started on Nov. 6 and will conclude on Sunday
- Pakistani writers Amna Mufti and Rumana Husain focused on their works during panel discussions
KARACHI: Pakistani authors participating in the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, set to conclude this weekend, described the event on Saturday as the first step toward bridging the gap between writers and readers residing in the two countries.
The event is touted as one of the largest book fairs in the world. The 43rd edition of the annual event was inaugurated by Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah, on November 6 and will end on November 17.
During its 11-day run, the event hosted over 2,500 publishers from more than 100 nations while celebrating over 400 authors under the theme “It Starts with a Book.” Among literary figures from around the world, Pakistani authors Amna Mufti, Rumana Husain and Dr. Osama Siddique participated in the fair for the first time.
“I was really impressed to learn that it was the 43rd edition of the fair and that this vision goes back at least four decades,” Husain told Arab News. “It was commendable how they have carried it for so long.”
“I had a wonderful time at the elegant opening, followed by a captivating award ceremony and gala dinner on the first day,” she continued. “The fair was impressively large.”
Husain was part of a panel discussion titled “Influence of Cultural Expectations and Educational Choices” on the third day of the fair. She shared the stage with co-panelist Dr. Adiy Tweissi from Jordan, while the session was moderated by Sharara Al Ali from Syria.
Husain, who has penned over 80 books for children in Urdu, shared her journey as a writer with a particular niche during an interaction with students of H.H. Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School in Dubai.
“It would be a wonderful collaboration with writers in the UAE if our books are translated into Arabic because Arabic is spoken so widely in so many countries throughout the Arab world,” she said. “We have put forth this idea with the organizers.”
Karachi-based Husain along with two other authors were invited to the book fair due to Mufti’s efforts.
“I learned in 2023 that the UAE government is offering a 10-year golden visa to writers. So, I made a portfolio and got mine in no time. In return for their hospitality, I decided to contribute to the literary exchange between the two countries,” Mufti told Arab News.
“I had my session on the second day of the fair, where I discussed my book ‘Pani Mar Raha Hai,’ with Nadia Swan moderating my over hour-long session, followed by a book signing,” she said.
“Pani Mar Raha Hai,” or Water is Dying, is a contemporary Urdu novel addressing the water crisis and highlighting the impact of climate change on human life.
“I was particularly intrigued to see attendees from Kerala [India], in addition to Pakistan, who were very keen to learn about the themes in my book,” said Mufti.
She also noted that the book fair marked the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, a lifelong project of Sheikh Sultan. Spanning 127 volumes, it compiles an extensive body of Arabic linguistic knowledge, making it accessible to the public.
In addition to the dictionary, an Arabic encyclopedia covering science, literature, arts and media was also launched on the opening day.
During her stay in the UAE, Mufti has held a session with female students at Woodlem Park School in Ajman, where she shared storytelling techniques with a group of 200 participants from 65 nationalities.
According to Visit Sharjah, the Sharjah International Book Fair features over 400 literary events, including writing workshops, poetry recitations and book signings.
The stalls prominently showcase local favorites, including books on Sharjah and Arabic art and culture. Additionally, live cookery stations allow visitors to experience Arabic cuisine and its preparation.
“It was an initial exchange for the first time,” said Mufti.
“There is a huge number of expat Pakistanis and Indians in Sharjah, and there is significant acceptance for Urdu there,” she added. “Our books could be translated into Arabic and vice versa. This exchange should lead to fruitful outcomes for the expansion of culture and literature in both countries.”
Through ‘Haryali’ art exhibition, Denmark calls for urgent environmental action in Pakistan
- Danish embassy organizes exhibition featuring artworks by 36 Pakistani artists against global warming, pollution
- Pakistan consistently ranks among countries affected most by climate change, where floods killed over 1,700 in 2022
ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan’s capital this week organized a powerful art exhibition that called for urgent environmental action to battle climate challenges, with the European country’s ambassador pledging support for Islamabad in transitioning to renewable energy.
Pakistan is one of the world’s worst affected countries due to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing less than one percent of planet-warming emissions. Unusually heavy rains in June 2022 killed over 1,700 people, destroyed critical infrastructure in the country and affected over 33 million people which scientists attributed to climate change.
“Haryali,” which translates to greenery in Urdu, was the name chosen for the exhibition which took place at the Danish ambassador’s residence in Islamabad on Friday night. The exhibition was held to mark 75 years of Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with Denmark at a time when various world leaders have gathered in Baku to attend the COP29 climate conference.
The exhibition featured artworks by 36 Pakistani artists, who highlighted the disastrous effects of climate change and global warming through sculptures and paintings.
“Pakistan is one of the countries in the world suffering the most from climate change and action needs to be taken,” Danish Ambassador Jakob Linulf told Arab News on Friday.
“And this is not something that Pakistan can do by themselves, and from the Danish side we are ready to help with all the expertise that we have gained through our battle also to make a greener society.”
Linulf said Denmark uses solar, wind, water and biomass to generate electricity, adding that Pakistan has an abundance of all of these resources.
“I would love to see Pakistan transforming its energy sector into a more sustainable energy sector,” he said.
Iman Bilal, a Pakistani sculptor, highlighted the health dangers associated with microplastics.
“We’re deteriorating our health, it’s internalized,” she said, stressing the role of art in motivating stakeholders to take action to avoid environmental degradation.
Kareem Ahmed Khan, an artist from the scenic Hunza Valley in northern Pakistan severely impacted by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), reflected on climate change’s devastating impact on his region.
“For the past seven to eight years, I’ve been working to highlight the impact of climate change on my region,” Khan told Arab News.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke at a number of events at COP29 earlier this week, used the forum to highlight the need to restore confidence in the pledging process and increase climate finance for vulnerable, developing countries.
Spencer Johnson takes five as Australia beat Pakistan to clinch T20 series
- Pakistan fell short by 13 runs despite Haris Rauf’s impressive 4-22, which restricted the hosts to 147-9
- Australia, having won the rain-hit opener in Brisbane, will host the final game in Hobart on Monday
SYDNEY: Speedster Spencer Johnson took 5-26 to propel Australia to a tense 13-run victory over Pakistan in Sydney on Saturday and seal their three-match T20 series with a game to go.
Set just 148 to win after Haris Rauf claimed 4-22 to keep the hosts in check, Pakistan were all out for 134 in the final over despite a lively 52 from Usman Khan.
Australia won a rain-hit first match in Brisbane by 29 runs with the final game at Hobart on Monday.
“We thought we were there or thereabouts and I thought the way the bowlers went about it was brilliant,” said Australian captain Josh Inglis.
“There’s so many options in this team I can go to. Every time I turned to Johnson tonight, he got a wicket. The way they played tonight was really good.”
Australia secured a vital breakthrough by removing Babar Azam (3) off Xavier Bartlett in the second over and Pakistan’s woes deepened when Johnson accounted for Sahibzada Farhan (5).
Runs were hard to come by and after facing 26 balls for 16, skipper Mohammad Rizwan knew he had to up the tempo.
But it cost him with Tim David taking a fine diving catch in the deep off Johnson, who then bagged Salman Agha next ball, caught behind by Inglis to leave Pakistan on 44-4 after 10 overs.
Khan played himself in and brought up his first T20 half-century.
But Johnson struck again with Abbas Afridi (4) following soon after to earn the 28-year-old a maiden five-wicket haul in his seventh T20.
Two wickets in an over by spin king Adam Zampa piled the pressure on Pakistan who were unable to rise to the challenge.
Earlier, Australia was restricted to 147-9 after a rip-roaring start, but a slew of dropped catches cost Pakistan.
“If you take the positives, the boys bowled very well. We know Australia is not an easy team,” said Rizwan.
“But if you drop crucial catches, it will cost you the game.
“We all know the pitch wasn’t easy to bat,” he added.
Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short stitched together a highly entertaining 52-run opening stand off just 22 balls before Rauf struck twice in three deliveries.
After tempting Fraser-McGurk (20) into another slog that was taken in the deep by Agha, he enticed a leading edge from Inglis (0).
Pakistan had their tails up and Short quickly followed for 32, bowled by Afridi, with three wickets falling for four runs.
Marcus Stoinis survived two dropped catches but finally fell on 14, reverse-sweeping to Sufiyan Muqeem, who was brought into side for Haseebullah Khan.
Muqeem’s wrist-spin then took care of dangerman Glenn Maxwell (21) as the runs dried up.
David was removed by Rauf for 18 and he collected his fourth by bowling Bartlett (5).
Aaron Hardie made a handy 28 before Afridi removed him and Johnson in successive balls in the final over.
Seven paramilitary soldiers killed in overnight militant attack in Pakistan’s southwest
- Militants launched an armed assault on a Frontier Corps check-post in the remote district of Kalat
- Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, which also left 12 people injured
QUETTA: At least seven soldiers of Pakistan’s paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) were killed in an overnight attack on a security check-post in the mountainous region of Kalat district in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, according to a local administration official on Saturday.
The province has been the site of a low-level insurgency by separatist militants for over two decades, although militant attacks have intensified significantly in recent months.
Last August, Baloch separatists launched a string of coordinated attacks targeting civilians and military forces, resulting in more than 50 deaths within a few hours. The latest attack on Pakistani security forces follows a deadly suicide bombing last week at the crowded Quetta railway station, which killed over two dozen people, including army personnel and wounded more than 50 others.
“Armed militants attacked a Frontier Corps check-post in Shah Mardan, an area located 60 kilometers from Kalat city at midnight,” Kalat’s Deputy Commissioner Bilal Shabir told Arab News over the phone.
“Seven soldiers of the paramilitary force were killed in the attack and 12 injured,” he continued, sharing the details of the armed assault. “Subsequently, a security clearance operation was carried out in the mountainous area.”
Asked how many attackers were killed in the skirmish, the deputy commissioner said authorities had not received information on that.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters had targeted the paramilitary post in Kalat.
The BLA, the largest of several Baloch ethnic insurgent groups, seeks independence for the volatile province, which is home to approximately 15 million people and borders Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west.
The BLA and other Baloch nationalist groups accuse the Pakistani state of unfairly exploiting the province’s rich gas and mineral resources— an allegation denied by successive governments, which claim to have been undertaking development projects to improve residents’ quality of life.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack on FC personnel, calling the attackers enemies of the province’s economic development.
The prime minister also ordered quality medical treatment for those injured in the attack in Kalat, a remote district located about 140 kilometers from Quetta.
Pakistan offers incentives to New York firms seeking South and Central Asia expansion
- Pakistan’s envoy to the US holds a meeting with the head of the New York Chamber of Commerce
- The United States is already Pakistan’s largest export market for textiles, apparel and leather goods
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has offered New York-based businesses investment incentives to expand their footprint in South and Central Asia, citing its strategic location as a key advantage, state-run media reported on Saturday.
Seeking to position itself as a pivotal trade and transit hub, Pakistan has sought to involve other countries in its economic plans, particularly within its own neighborhood where it has offered landlocked Central Asian states access to its ports to facilitate their connection to global markets.
US-Pakistan trade relations have long been significant, with the US serving as Pakistan’s largest export market for textiles, apparel and leather goods.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, met with Mark Jaffe, Head of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, to discuss strategies for enhancing bilateral trade between the two nations.
“The Pakistani envoy underscored Pakistan’s liberal investment regime, strategic geographic location, and incentives for foreign investors, emphasizing the benefits for New York businesses seeking to expand their footprint in South and Central Asia,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
Jaffe expressed interest in Pakistan’s textile, leather, surgical and information technology sectors apart from outlining efforts to promote trade and investment, it added.
Ambassador Sheikh appreciated Jaffe’s support and interest in Pakistan’s 5th International Textile and Leather Exhibition 2024 held last month in the country’s southern metropolis of Karachi, APP said.
He also invited the New York City chamber to participate in the 4th Engineering and Healthcare show in Lahore next year.
The Pakistani envoy highlighted how Pakistan’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status in the European Union and Free Trade Agreement with China could provide added advantages for foreign investors working in his country.
The meeting took place at a time when Islamabad is seeking to bolster trade and investment relations with allies to stabilize its fragile $350 billion economy as it faces an acute balance of payment crisis amid soaring inflation and surging external debt.
