KALLAR KAHAR : A modern olive oil cold-pressing unit with a processing capacity of 200 kilograms per hour has been inaugurated in Kallar Kahar under the Punjab government’s Potohar Transformation Plan.
Punjab Secretary of Agriculture Shakeel Ahmed Mian was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony and formally opened the facility by cutting the ribbon.
Addressing the ceremony, Shakeel Ahmed Mian said olive cultivation had expanded significantly across Chakwal, particularly in the Kallar Kahar region, where olive production had been underway for several years.
He said the new cold-pressing facility had been established to meet the needs of local olive growers and provide them with access to modern processing facilities under the Potohar Transformation initiative.
The Director General of Agriculture Punjab also addressed the ceremony, saying the project would facilitate local farmers by providing access to modern olive-processing infrastructure.
Prominent business and social personality Mian Muhammad Hanif, owner of Kisan Ghee, along with other speakers, also addressed the gathering.
The community-based unit can process 200 kilograms of olives per hour, enabling local farmers to process their produce and obtain high-quality olive oil.
The Punjab government has provided a subsidy of approximately Rs8.25 million (Rs82.5 lakh) for the establishment of the facility.
The initiative is expected to promote local olive processing, increase the value of agricultural produce and strengthen the olive value chain across the Potohar region.
Local farmers welcomed the project, describing it as an important step towards making olive cultivation more profitable, improving the utilisation of local resources and encouraging greater community participation in the olive sector.
Stalls showcasing various olive-based products were also set up at the event. Punjab Secretary of Agriculture Shakeel Ahmed Mian visited the stalls and reviewed the products on display.