Senior leadership from the Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB) visited Enfiniti Innovate to formalize a wide-ranging collaboration focused on high-value medicinal and aromatic crops, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan's journey toward agricultural modernization and value-added exports.
Pakistan's agricultural exports have demonstrated significant potential, with total exports of sesame, fruits, vegetables, rice, and other commodities surpassing $7 billion in the current fiscal year. However, the recent 17.32% dip in non-textile exports to $7.286 billion underscores the urgent need for diversification and value addition.
Pakistan has garnered $1.5 billion from sesame exports this year, with a remarkable 277% increase in cultivation acreage and a 300% surge in production compared to the previous year.
Sesame export growth 2025-2026
Non-textile exports breakdown
Dr. Amir Rasool, DG Agriculture Pest Warning Punjab, emphasized that adopting modern technology could potentially triple sesame exports to $3 billion within the next few years. This demonstrates the transformative potential of value-added agriculture.
Pakistan's diverse agro-ecological zones offer ideal conditions for high-value medicinal and aromatic plants, with growing global demand for natural ingredients in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.
Global menthol market valued at $1.2 billion. Pakistan's Punjab region offers ideal conditions for high-yield mint cultivation with oil yields up to 200 L/ha.
Natural zero-calorie sweetener market growing at 8.5% CAGR. Pakistan imports most stevia products despite ideal cultivation conditions.
Growing demand for processed sweet potato products in health food sector. Value-added processing can increase farmer returns by 300-400%.
Pakistan's citrus exports currently stand at around $250 million, with industry experts projecting potential to reach $1 billion within six years through diversification and value-added processing.
Citrus export potential with value addition
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has articulated a clear vision: "Our goal is to move up on the value chain. We want to move from commodity supplier in agriculture to value-added supplier in agriculture and food industry".
| Product | Raw Value | Processed | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mint Leaves | $2/kg | $25/kg (oil) | 12.5x |
| Stevia Leaves | $3/kg | $40/kg (extract) | 13.3x |
| Sweet Potato | $0.5/kg | $4/kg (flour) | 8x |
Agriculture has been officially elevated as a priority area of cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The recent Pakistan-China Agri Investment Conference (January 19, 2026) resulted in 79 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Pakistani and Chinese companies with an approximate investment value of USD 4.5 billion.
The 10 priority sub-sectors identified for investment include food processing and value addition, agri-technology, fruits and vegetables, and animal feed — all directly aligned with the Enfiniti-PARB collaboration.
"The scale and depth of investment commitments reflect a decisive shift from dialogue to on-ground, investment-led collaboration. These investments will modernize Pakistan's agricultural value chains, introduce advanced production and processing technologies, and significantly enhance productivity."
Market size in USD billions (2025-2032)
Projected medicinal herb exports by 2030
Industry analysts project that with sustained investment in value-added processing, Pakistan's medicinal and aromatic plant exports could reach $500-700 million annually by 2030, creating thousands of rural jobs and significantly boosting farmer incomes.
Pakistan has a rich tradition of herbal medicine, with the Unani and Ayurvedic systems deeply integrated into the cultural fabric. However, the country currently imports significant quantities of herbal raw materials and extracts that could be domestically produced.
Primary source of menthol for pharmaceuticals, cough syrups, and topical analgesics. Pakistan currently imports menthol worth millions annually.
Natural sweetener for diabetic and health-conscious consumers. Growing demand in nutraceutical and functional food sectors.
Rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants; processed into flour, starch, and functional food ingredients for health products.
The olive sector's evolution offers a compelling parallel: from 55,000 acres under cultivation in 2025 to an estimated 60,000 acres in 2026, with 51 olive extraction units now established and international recognition for quality. The Enfiniti-PARB collaboration aims to replicate this success for medicinal and aromatic crops.
The PARB leadership visit marks the beginning of a transformative partnership that will unlock the value of Pakistan's agricultural biodiversity. By focusing on high-value medicinal and aromatic crops, investing in value-added processing, and building sustainable supply chains, this collaboration directly addresses the critical need to diversify exports and move Pakistan up the global value chain.
With sesame already demonstrating the potential for 300% growth, the stage is set for Japanese mint, Stevia, and Sweet potato to become the next success stories in Pakistan's agricultural export portfolio.