Pakistan has boosted its sesame exports, positioning itself as the world’s third-largest exporter with annual sales surpassing $1 billion. This marks an impressive 366% increase in export value over the last five years.
This exceptional growth is closely associated with a 455% rise in domestic sesame production, which has reached 1.119 million tons per year. This success is primarily due to the effective execution of the National Oilseeds Enhancement Program (NOEP) and strong cooperation between federal and provincial agricultural departments.
Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, noted the transformation of sesame from a previously overlooked crop into a significant economic asset. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to further enhancing production and expanding market opportunities.
Looking forward, the minister underscored the necessity of advancing processing technologies to increase the value of sesame products and the importance of seeking new international markets.
He also urged the Ministry of Commerce to take proactive measures in promoting Pakistani sesame on a global scale. The considerable rise in sesame exports is anticipated to make a substantial contribution to Pakistan’s economy and lessen the nation’s dependence on imported edible oils.
