Islamabad: Pakistan and Türkiye have reached an agreement to intensify their collaboration in several key areas, including Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine production, livestock development, and agricultural training, as announced in a recent meeting between officials from both countries.
According to Press Information Department, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain met with the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, to discuss initiatives aimed at strengthening the longstanding strategic partnership between the two nations. The meeting focused on institutional linkages, technical collaboration, and direct engagement between the relevant ministries, universities, and experts.
A major aspect of the discussions was centered around capacity building and technical training. Pakistan plans to send an initial group of approximately 30 participants to Türkiye as part of a proposed training program for 100 trainees. Efforts are underway to coordinate with Turkish institutions and finalize the universities and disciplines for this initiative. The Turkish Ambassador offered assistance in establishing direct connections with Turkish universities specializing in agriculture.
Livestock development and the domestic production of the FMD vaccine were identified as key priorities. The Minister highlighted the Prime Minister’s decision to seek Türkiye’s technical support for developing indigenous FMD vaccine production in Pakistan. The Turkish Ambassador confirmed his country’s willingness to provide technical cooperation, with plans for a Turkish delegation to visit Pakistan to explore collaborative opportunities.
The meeting also reviewed previous collaborations, including a Pakistani delegation’s visit to Türkiye to study its livestock sector. The findings from these exchanges aim to identify practical areas where Turkish expertise can be adapted in Pakistan.
Furthermore, the proposed cooperation on FMD vaccine production is linked to Pakistan’s goal of establishing disease-free zones to enhance its access to international meat markets, particularly Türkiye. The improved animal health standards and domestic vaccine production are expected to boost Pakistan’s livestock and meat export potential.
Discussions also included Türkiye’s prior support through TIKA for an olive oil production facility in Muzaffarabad, benefiting around 5,000 farmers. Pakistan expressed interest in expanding such initiatives to other olive-producing regions, focusing on processing, value addition, and improved market opportunities. Cooperation in olives and other value-added food products was also discussed.
Both sides underscored the importance of moving towards implementation through technical teams, institutional cooperation, and targeted joint initiatives, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening agricultural and livestock cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye.