World

PM Shehbaz Greenlights Duty‑Free Livestock Imports for Export‑Focused Farms

By APP

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a plan to restructure Pakistan’s livestock sector on a corporate model and boost exports by allowing duty‑free imports of livestock for specialised rearing farms. In a high‑level review meeting, the PM directed the formulation and implementation of reforms with input from private‑sector experts. He instructed that specialised farms be established to raise high‑yield, superior‑breed livestock for export, and that a modern tagging system be introduced to confirm that livestock reared in these farms are indeed exported. The PM also called for a comprehensive plan with specific targets to eradicate Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease within two weeks, and for international certification and third‑party validation of slaughterhouses. He urged the Ministry of National Food Security to work with provincial governments to eliminate livestock diseases and to improve the entire value chain to develop the meat and livestock export industry. The meeting received detailed briefings on the sector’s potential: Pakistan has about 245 million livestock, valued at roughly Rs 5.5 trillion, contributing 14.97 % to the national economy and 63.6 % to agriculture. Annual production is about 74.69 million tons of milk and 6.31 million tons of meat. Around 8 million rural families are involved, but small‑scale rearing and a fragmented supply chain limit export potential. Meat exports were about $530 million in the 2025‑26 fiscal year, mainly to Gulf countries, with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China and others seen as new markets. Government initiatives highlighted include a national animal disease surveillance program, FMD‑free zones, digital vaccination monitoring, export‑grade farms, and international health and Halal certification systems. The government is also promoting feedlot farming, cold‑chain infrastructure, de‑boning, value‑added products and export‑related infrastructure, targeting further increases in 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 senior officials attended the meeting.