Speakers in a stakeholders' meeting in Karak have asked oil and gas companies to make investment in plantation of olive plants in the district. The purpose of the meeting in oil and gas rich district hosted by the district administration was to review development initiatives under taken by federal and provincial governments as well as different local and foreign companies in the area.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Karak, Shafiullah Khan chaired the meeting held at DC Office, Karak. Various public and private sector stakeholders were invited to discuss the development initiatives of federal and provincial government as well as the CSR Component by Oil and Gas, and Telecom Companies operating in the district. The meeting was attended by officials from SMEDA, PODB, MOL, OGDCL, Forest Department, ARI Tarnab, EPA, and Progressive Growers. Abdullah (AC), Mir Khawas (AC), Asmatullah (TMO, Karak), and Rehmatullah (DFO) also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Ishfaq Afridi (Project Director, Swat Honey CFC SMEDA) delivered presentation about the activities of SMEDA with reference to Karak. He explained about the joint activities in collaboration with the Honey Association, Agriculture Research (GoKP), Pakistan Oil Seed Development Board, and the Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak and added that along with the completion of Swat Honey Project, the SMEDA facilitated replication of the honey project by SMEs at Tarnab.
Similarly, Hafizullah Khan (Project Director, Fruit Dehydration Unit, Swat), another SMEDA implemented project while appreciating the proactive approach of the District Administration, informed the audience about the agriculture and honey value chain issues, and the proposal on establishment of Honey Development Centre at Karak. Talking about the economics of Edible Olive cultivars in inter-cropping with the Berseem and Bajra, he termed the model to be equally beneficial for Honey and Dairy Development.
Regarding the difficulties faced in Olive orchards development, he suggested that the financial facilitation by Oil and Gas companies to the local communities for fencing and modern irrigation over 100 acres will play a vital role in this regard. He added that, the plantation of 30,000 olive plants may result in Rs 465 Million throughout the olive value chain after five years.
Shah Sawar Khan (Project Director, Olive-Tarnab), briefed the participants about the Olive Project and its progress till date. He offered the Oil and Gas Companies the availability of free of cost Olive Plants subject to the plantation within properly protected and sufficiently irrigated land.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Karak, Shafiullah Khan stressed need for synergetic efforts by all stakeholders for development of the district. He said that the opportunity of Olive plants' offer by KP Govt should be availed for the green and prosperous KP. He persuaded the Oil and Gas Companies to play active role in olive plantation within suitable places of their boundaries as well as to facilitate the local communities in shape of fencing and irrigation support. The participants appreciated the initiative of the DC Karak and expressed willingness and optimum efforts for olive orchards establishment.