Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved a policy to boost Pakistan’s halal meat exports and led the formulation of a three-year comprehensive strategy to increase the country’s share in global halal meat markets.
Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister said the strategy should include “practical measures to increase halal meat exports” and be presented in the next two weeks.
During the meeting, officials informed the Prime Minister that Pakistan’s total Halal meat production currently stands at 6 million tonnes, with sufficient quantity available for export after meeting domestic demand. They also briefed the meeting on the measures taken to increase production and ensure packaging of global standards.
He highlighted the importance of coordination between federal ministries and provincial governments, saying: “A comprehensive strategy, created through coordination between all relevant ministries and provincial governments, is essential to secure Pakistan’s share in the halal meat market in Muslim countries and the world.
The Prime Minister directed the committee tasked with improving Pakistan’s halal meat exports to come up with concrete measures to improve production, cold storage and other critical factors. He added: “Special measures should be taken to increase Halal meat production in the livestock sector in line with global standards and to compete with regional production levels. »
Highlighting the need for coordinated efforts, he said, “Establishment of coordinated centers with the cooperation of federal ministries and provincial governments is the need of the hour to improve the production and nutritional value of halal meat. »
Referring to Pakistan’s potential in exporting Halal meat, Shehbaz Sharif assured, “The government will provide all possible assistance for international certification of existing slaughterhouses and bilateral registration with other countries. He further added that “special measures should be taken to ensure that slaughterhouses are free from diseases and maintain cleanliness and hygiene arrangements in accordance with international standards.”
He also highlighted the adoption of best practices, saying: “A business model to increase halal meat exports should be developed using globally recognized best practices. »
Recently, the government also finalized a $200 million plan to boost meat exports to Malaysia over the next three to five years, with the halal meat sector set to gain industry status.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan said, “An effective trade framework for meat exports has been developed. All members of the committee and ministries have done a remarkable job.”
Food Safety Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain added that modern slaughterhouses would be established in line with Malaysian standards to facilitate compliance and enhance business potential.
