KARACHI (July 04 2003) : A joint delegation of Pakistan Coconut and OilPalm Plantation Society (PCOPS) and Pakistan Vanaspati ManufacturersAssociation (PVMA) met with Provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture,Sindh Arif Mustafa Jatoi, in his office, a press release said on Thursday.

The delegation was headed by Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman PCOP and other membersincluded Sheikh Abdul Razzak, Chairman PVMA, Afasr Saeed Khan, ViceChairman, Muhammad Ilyas Qureshi, Technical Advisor and Tariq Ahmad,General Secretary PVMA.

Kaukab Iqbal briefed the minister about the activities of PCOPS andemphasised upon the establishment of research and development station inthe coastal area of Sindh.

He stressed for the establishment of oil palm estates on the basis ofMalaysia Palm Oil Board and informed that both foreign and local investorsare ready to develop oil palm farms and for setting up of oil palmextraction plant.

Abdul Razzak informed that total requirement of the country for edible oilis 2.000 million metric tonnes, out of this 1.000 million metric tonnesPalm oil is imported from Malaysia, 0.300 metric tonnes soyabean oil isimported from America and other countries, oil is obtained from sunflower,soyabean and canola seeds imported for crushing purposes a and 0.400million tonnes oil is obtained from cotton seeds.

In this way huge foreign exchange is being spent on the import of edibleoils, he said.

Chairman PVMA told the Minister that all the Palm oil to be produced inPakistan will be purchased by the members of the PVMA and urged upon theauthorities to stop malpractice by some fake manufacturers of ghee andcooking oil, who are playing with the health of people by makingadulterated ghee and edible oils.

Arif Jatoi discussed the issues at length and desired that Society mayidentify the land for R&D Project and also co-ordinate the investor/ donorfor the purpose.

He also showed the interest to visit the Oil Palm farm and nursery so thatthe specific planning may be done for the plantation of oil palm whichmight produce fresh fruit bunches to run one Oil Extraction Plant.-PPI