Govt taking steps to increase meat exports to Malaysia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is eyeing a major push to increase meat exports to Malaysia to USD 200 million, as the government is taking serious steps to strengthen the Pakistani Halal meat export base and access high-value international markets.

In this connection, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, chaired a high-level meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Meat Export to Malaysia, to discuss and review the reports submitted by four working groups on this subject.

Khan revealed that Pakistan’s potential meat exports to Malaysia could reach USD 200 million, provided immediate steps are taken to resolve constraints like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and the ban on bone-in meat exports.

He emphasised that India enjoys a competitive edge by exporting bone-in meat, whereas Pakistan is restricted to boneless shipments due to FMD concerns. He announced that a comprehensive business model to enhance meat exports to Malaysia will be finalised and presented to the Prime Minister for approval.

To address these challenges, the meeting decided on a two-step plan - an immediate report within four days identifying measures to achieve the USD 200 million goal, followed by a comprehensive policy framework within ten days to ensure sustainable sectoral growth.

During the meeting, four working groups established earlier under the committee presented their reports. Senior officials from the ministries of Commerce, Industries, and Food, along with representatives from both public and private sectors, participated in the session.

Khan highlighted that Pakistan enjoys a strong livestock base and an internationally recognized reputation for Halal meat. He emphasised that improving quality, consistency, and competitiveness is crucial for expanding Pakistan’s meat exports.

According to the committee’s findings, Pakistan still faces several challenges in this sector, including a shortage of small animals, underdeveloped feedlot finishing, and a weak cold chain infrastructure.

The committee recommended enhancing animal productivity, adopting modern slaughtering and processing technologies, ensuring robust Halal certification systems, and strengthening logistics to meet international standards.

Khan noted that the livestock sector remains a key source of rural income, with more than 12 million households involved in livestock rearing. “Rural families derive 35 to 40 percent of their income from livestock,” he stated.

He further observed that global exporters primarily trade in frozen meat, which reduces costs and allows access to wider markets. However, Pakistan’s animals are generally smaller in size and yield lower productivity compared to major exporters.

Khan pointed out that Pakistan’s capacity for processing frozen and de-boned beef is currently limited, stressing the need to upgrade processing, cold chain, and export-ready systems. He also emphasized the importance of providing incentives to boost buffalo meat exports.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025