PM approves plan to boost livestock exports

ISLAMABAD, Oct 05 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday approved a plan to boost livestock exports by importing livestock, rearing them in specialized farms, and subsequently exporting them.

He said import of livestock for these specialized farms should be duty-free.

The Prime Minister also approved restructuring of the livestock sector along corporate lines and formulating and implementing reforms through private sector experts.

A high-level review meeting regarding ongoing reforms in the livestock sector, chaired by the Prime Minister, was held in Islamabad.

Specialized farms should be established for livestock exports, he said adding high-yield, superior-breed livestock should be imported and reared in these specialized farms for export purposes.

He said a modern livestock tagging system should be introduced to ensure that the livestock reared in these farms are indeed exported.

The livestock sector should be reorganized on a corporate model to modernize it, he added.

He said expertise from private sector specialists should be utilized for this purpose.

Livestock accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s agricultural sector, and the sector holds immense export potential, he said adding a comprehensive plan with specific targets for eradicating Foot-and-Mouth Disease from the country should be formulated and presented within the next two weeks.

He said international certification of slaughterhouses across the country must be ensured.

Third-party validation must be ensured to guarantee international standards at slaughterhouses, he said adding the Ministry of National Food Security should work in collaboration with provincial governments to eradicate livestock diseases.

He said efforts should be made to improve the entire value chain to further develop the meat and livestock export industry.

The Prime Minister directed that targets for meat, livestock, and related exports be determined and presented.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the livestock sector, and proposals regarding the future roadmap for the sector’s development and the enhancement of exports were presented.

Regarding the overall potential of Pakistan’s livestock sector, the meeting was informed that the country possesses approximately 245 million livestock, with a total estimated value of around Rs 5.5 trillion. The livestock sector contributes 14.97% to the national economy and 63.6% to the agricultural economy, with an annual production of approximately 74.69 million tons of milk and 6.31 million tons of meat.

It was noted that while around 8 million rural families in the country are associated with livestock, the prevalence of small-scale livestock rearing and a fragmented supply chain hinder the full utilization of export potential. The meeting was informed that there is immense potential to significantly increase Pakistan’s meat exports. Meat exports stood at approximately $530 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with the bulk of current exports destined for Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. It was noted that Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, and other nations offer significant prospects as new and expanding markets.

The meeting was also briefed on government initiatives to boost livestock and meat exports. These include the national program for animal disease surveillance, protection, and animal traceability; the establishment of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free zones and compartments; digital monitoring of vaccinations and diseases; and the development of export-grade farms alongside international health and Halal certification systems. Furthermore, the meeting was apprised that the government is focusing on promoting feedlot farming, cold chain infrastructure, de-boning, value-added products, and export-related infrastructure, with a target set to further increase meat exports by 2028.

Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal, Dr. Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Attaullah Tarar; Prime Minister’s Advisor Haroon Akhtar; Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani; and other relevant senior officials attended the meeting.