ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sanctioned the creation of dedicated farms to cultivate imported livestock for export purposes, aiming to bolster Pakistan’s livestock export capabilities. During a review meeting on livestock sector reforms, the Prime Minister outlined a comprehensive plan to restructure the sector along corporate lines, incorporating private sector expertise and implementing duty-free imports of superior-breed livestock to be raised for export.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of establishing a modern tagging system to ensure the traceability and export compliance of livestock raised on these farms. He highlighted the significant contribution of the livestock sector, which constitutes over 60 percent of the agricultural economy, and directed the preparation of an action plan to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease, alongside international certification and third-party validation of slaughterhouses.

The meeting revealed that Pakistan’s livestock sector, valued at 5.5 trillion rupees, contributes 14.97 percent to the national economy. Despite the sector’s potential, challenges such as small-scale farming and fragmented supply chains hinder export growth. Meat exports reached approximately 530 million dollars last fiscal year, primarily to Gulf countries, with additional markets identified in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and China.

Government initiatives to boost exports include disease surveillance, establishment of disease-free zones, and enhancements to export infrastructure, aiming for increased meat exports by 2028.