Pakistan plans to increase halal meat exports

The Government of Pakistan has for the first time developed a livestock development policy in the country.

In the next decade, Pakistan plans to become a major halal food exporting country. The new livestock policy in the country has been approved and is ready for implementation in the coming years. Currently, the country's MEAT exports are worth $290 million, but the new policy aims to increase the EXPORT of halal meat, MILK, butter and other products in order to take a larger share of the global halal food market.

Food security, poverty reduction and increased national income are also among the key policy objectives. The share of agriculture in the country is 60.7%, and the economic growth is 11.6%, but the livestock industry has been characterized by instability in the past.

However, the current government has developed the first livestock policy to ensure food security, reduce poverty and increase national income, aiming to achieve double-digit growth in the livestock sector by 2025 with the help of the private sector.

According to the policy paper, more than 8 million farmers in Pakistan are employed in animal husbandry and the sector is growing at just 4% annually.

In addition, it is planned that modern organic animal husbandry will increase the number of farm animals, which currently stands at 120 million, and legislation will be passed to establish the Food Safety, Animal and Plant HEALTH Authority. Particular attention was paid to the allocation of additional funds for food safety research and modern laboratory systems.

The policy also proposes the establishment of model meat farms. It is proposed to give priority to trade in live animals and livestock products. In 2020, the share of livestock in the total volume of agriculture was 60.6%, and in GDP - 11.7%.