Government plans specialised export farms, modern animal traceability and disease-control measures to expand Pakistan’s meat and livestock exports.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a comprehensive plan to restructure Pakistan’s livestock sector on corporate lines and expand meat and livestock exports through specialised farms, disease control and modern traceability systems.
Chairing a high-level meeting on livestock sector reforms, the prime minister directed authorities to formulate and implement reforms with the expertise of private-sector specialists.
He also ordered the establishment of specialised export farms where high-yield and superior-breed livestock could be imported duty-free, reared and subsequently exported.
Shehbaz Sharif directed the introduction of a modern livestock tagging system to ensure that imported animals designated for export are properly tracked throughout the process.
He said the livestock sector should be reorganised on a corporate model to improve efficiency and strengthen Pakistan’s position in international markets.
Focus on disease control and exports
The prime minister noted that livestock accounts for more than 60% of Pakistan’s agricultural economy and has significant export potential.
He directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan, with specific targets, to eradicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and present it within two weeks.
He also called for international certification of slaughterhouses and third-party validation to ensure compliance with global standards.
The Ministry of National Food Security was directed to coordinate with provincial governments to strengthen measures against livestock diseases.
The prime minister further emphasised the need to upgrade the entire livestock value chain, including feedlot farming, cold-chain infrastructure, de-boning, value-added products and export-related facilities.
Specific targets for meat, livestock and related exports were also ordered as part of the reform plan.
Pakistan has 245m livestock
The meeting was informed that Pakistan has around 245 million livestock animals, with the sector valued at approximately Rs5.5 trillion.
Livestock contributes 14.97% to the national economy and 63.6% to agriculture, while annual production stands at around 74.69 million tonnes of milk and 6.31 million tonnes of meat.
Around 8 million rural families depend on livestock for their livelihoods. However, small-scale farming and fragmented supply chains continue to constrain the sector’s export potential.
Meat exports reached approximately $530 million in FY2025-26, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar among the major destinations.
Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and China were identified as promising markets for further expansion of Pakistan’s meat and livestock exports.
Digital traceability system planned
The government is also implementing animal disease surveillance, livestock traceability, FMD-free zones and digital vaccination monitoring as part of efforts to improve animal health and meet international export requirements.
Export-grade farms supported by international health and Halal certification are also being developed to improve access to overseas markets.
The government believes modernising the livestock value chain, strengthening disease-control mechanisms and improving certification and traceability could help Pakistan increase its share of international meat and livestock markets.
Federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Attaullah Tarar, along with other senior officials, attended the meeting.