Pakistan eyes halal meat export surge as PM approves new policy, certification support

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved a new halal meat export policy, directing relevant authorities to finalise a comprehensive three-year strategy within two weeks to significantly increase Pakistan’s share in the global market.

Presiding over a high-level review meeting in the federal capital, the prime minister emphasised that a coordinated effort between federal ministries and provincial governments is essential to making Pakistan a major player in the international halal meat industry, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said.

The premier tasked a specialised committee to provide actionable proposals focused on improving production capacity, cold storage facilities, and overall logistics.

Pakistani meat exporter commences operations at Karachi EPZ plant

PM Shehbaz underscored the need for Pakistan to meet world-class standards to compete effectively in both Muslim-majority countries and the broader global market. He directed the concerned authorities to provide all possible assistance for the international certification of domestic slaughterhouses and to facilitate bilateral registration with importing nations.

A key focus of the new policy is ensuring that meat exports are sourced from disease-free zones and maintained under the highest hygiene conditions, he said.

During the briefing, it was revealed that Pakistan’s total halal meat production currently stands at 6 million metric tonnes. Officials noted that after meeting domestic requirements, the country possesses a substantial surplus that can be diverted toward exports if supported by international-standard packaging and competitive pricing. The prime minister specifically highlighted that reducing production costs and adopting globally recognised business models would be critical for regional competitiveness.

Pakistan moves toward major meat export breakthrough with Malaysia

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanvir Hussain, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, and Special Assistant to PM for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, along with other senior government officials.

A high-level meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Meat Exports to Malaysia was held in November, co-chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.

The session brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to review challenges, recommendations, and the future roadmap for enhancing Pakistan’s meat exports to Malaysia.

During the meeting, the committee proposed an ambitious target of USD 200 million worth of meat exports to Malaysia. Minister Jam highlighted that a collaborative business model is being developed with private exporters to streamline and boost meat shipments.