04/03/2014 (Bernama) - Pakistan is in negotiations with Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to open large-scale oil palm estates in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

Malaysia's interest in large-scale oil palm plantations in Pakistan would definitely help save millions of dollars spent on edible oil imports per annum, The Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Malaysia currently accounts for 39 per cent of world palm oil production and 44 per cent of world exports.

The report said sources at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said there were good prospects for oil palm cultivation in the coastal belt of Sindh and Balochistan where climatic conditions are favourable though there was lack of water and extreme heat with monsoons least affecting the area.

The sources said 3,237 hectares (8,000 acres) of land in Sindh and nearly the same size along the coastal areas of Balochistan would be brought under oil palm cultivation in the near future.

Pakistan imports seedlings through the Pakistan Oilseed Development Board.