Pakistan has dramatically increased its sesame exports, becoming the world’s third-largest exporter with annual sales exceeding $1 billion. This represents a significant 366% surge in export value over the past five years.

The remarkable growth is directly linked to a 455% increase in domestic sesame production, reaching 1.119 million tons annually. This achievement is largely attributed to the successful implementation of the National Oilseeds Enhancement Program (NOEP) and effective collaboration between federal and provincial agriculture departments.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, highlighted sesame’s transformation from a relatively neglected crop into a major economic contributor. He emphasized the government’s commitment to further expanding production and market access.

Looking ahead, the minister stressed the importance of improving processing technologies to add value to sesame products and the need to explore new international markets.

He also called upon the Ministry of Commerce to actively promote Pakistani sesame globally. The substantial increase in sesame exports is expected to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economy and reduce the country’s reliance on imported edible oils.