International Poultry Expo (IPEX) 2026: Adviser highlights benefits, potential of poultry industry
LAHORE: Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, has called for a comprehensive export strategy to enable Pakistan’s poultry industry to establish a strong footprint in international markets, saying the sector has the potential to become a major contributor to food security, employment and economic growth.
Addressing the International Poultry Expo (IPEX) 2026 at the Expo Centre Lahore on Thursday, he said the poultry industry was an important link between rural areas, industry, laboratories and markets, but the time had come for it to move beyond meeting domestic demand and compete in global markets.
He said Pakistan needed a poultry industry capable of producing more efficiently, providing affordable nutrition to consumers and meeting international quality standards.
Despite high production costs, disease-related challenges, energy pressures and uncertainty, the industry had continued to invest and maintain production, demonstrating its resilience and importance to the national economy, he added.
Haroon Akhtar Khan said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was working to translate policies into practical outcomes and productive economic activity. Increased investment, industrial expansion and employment creation, he added, were the real indicators of the success of government initiatives.
He stressed the need for uninterrupted availability of poultry feed and other essential raw materials, saying decisions regarding imports of soybean and other critical inputs should be based on clear requirements and taken within defined timelines to provide certainty to the industry.
The adviser said Pakistan should focus on expanding access to international markets for processed, packaged and branded halal poultry products. Along with halal certification, he emphasised disease surveillance, internationally recognised processing standards and comprehensive traceability systems.
He said biosecurity was essential not only to protect poultry farms but also to safeguard export opportunities, while an efficient cold-chain system was necessary to maintain product quality and protect the reputation of Pakistani brands.
“Pakistani poultry products should be of a standard that encourages international buyers to choose them repeatedly on the basis of quality and competitive value,” he said.
Haroon Akhtar Khan said modern technology, precision feeding, advanced genetics, early disease detection and digital monitoring could significantly improve productivity and competitiveness of the poultry industry.
He urged international partners to support technology transfer, training and development of local supply chains, while calling for greater opportunities for young people in biotechnology, engineering, food science, entrepreneurship and other poultry-related fields.
The adviser stressed that a strong government-industry partnership was essential for sustainable growth, adding that clear priorities, defined responsibilities and an effective follow-up mechanism were needed to resolve industrial issues and ensure implementation.
“The government’s objective is to create a business environment where entrepreneurs can plan for the next decade rather than remain focused on the next crisis,” he said.
He said Pakistani youth should be provided opportunities to build their future in productive sectors, including poultry, and partnerships established at IPEX 2026 should translate into sustainable investment and long-term business opportunities.
Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said that besides local companies associated with the poultry sector, 26 international companies had set up various stalls.
He congratulated the organisers on successfully holding the event.
Talking to the media, he said such exhibitions helped strengthen business linkages and create awareness.
Poultry was a major source of protein, he said, adding that the government was taking measures to reduce poultry feed prices and promote soybean cultivation.
A reduction in feed prices would ultimately bring down the price of poultry meat, he added.
He said the government would seek technical assistance from the US, Canada and Argentina —countries that had expertise in soybean cultivation — while research on soybean was also being conducted at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said Punjab was collaborating with China to promote modern agriculture, while the government wanted modern agricultural machinery to be manufactured locally.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026