Domestic edible oil production imperative to curtail reliance on imported oil of $4bn: experts

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2026) Experts have called for enhancing domestic edible oil production along with regenerative systems and its marketing model for oil seed to curtail heavy reliance on imported edible oil crossing $4 billion per annum.

They were addressing International Workshop on “Regenerative Systems for Oilseeds and its Marketing Model” organized by the Oilseeds Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here on Thursday.

Addressing the participants, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that Pakistan spends billions of Dollars annually on edible oil imports despite having favorable agro-climatic conditions for oilseed crops.

“There is an urgent need to shift towards regenerative and climate-smart oilseed systems based indigenous seed development, and farmer-centered extension models,” he remarked and added that the universities, research institutions and industry must work together to develop homegrown solutions that ensure food security and economic stability.

Dean Agriculture Prof Dr Ghulam Murtaza said that the soil health was taking a nasty turn that must be addressed at the national level.

Quoting the workshop suggestion, he called for strengthening research farmer linkages, promoting climate-smart oilseed cultivars, farmer field schools and policy support for oilseed sector to improve value chain and marketing systems.

UAF Registrar Dr Asif Kamran said that policy intervention will also help address the issue to get rid of the heavy import bill.

Dean Faulty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr Zahid Abbas said that soil health restoration, crop diversification, are key to sustainable productivity. T research work must be translated into goods and services, he added.

Chairman Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics Azeem Iqbal that Pakistan meets only a small fraction of its edible oil demand through local production. Stress-tolerant oilseed varieties are essential viable solution to bridge this gap, he added.

In her remarks, Humaira Razzaq elaborated on regenerative oilseed systems.

She noted that regenerative practices not only enhance oilseed yields but also improve environmental resilience and farmers’ long-term incomes.

Dr Anwar-ul-Haq said decreasing organic matter in the soil must be addressed at the national level by following the research based methods.