Raza Khan

Pakistan can enhance its meat exports by up to $1 billion within three to five years by adopting modern production techniques, resolving quality issues and overcoming animal diseases, the Ministry of Commerce said in a report. Pakistan produced at least 5.2 million tonnes of meat in 2021-22, but only 2% of the total production could be exported, the report said. Pakistan’s exports of meat and edible meat offal were recorded at $352.7 million in 2021-22 against $338.1 million in 2020-21.

Pakistan is ranked among the top 20 meat exporters in the world. Over 12 million rural families in the country are engaged in livestock production, deriving around 35% of their income from this source, said the report. It further said that 92% of Pakistan’s meat exports are in chilled category, while in contrast, frozen beef has a longer shelf life and can be transported by sea to the far markets. Local meat production in Pakistan is based on traditional management practices and is less productive, the report said, adding that the meat production practices are needed to be replaced with modern techniques.

“In order to compete in the international market of frozen beef, Pakistan needs to comply with the quality standards and sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) standards of the importing countries,” the ministry suggested. Currently, the foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin are among the main hurdles in enhancing meat export, the report said. It said the meat export processing zones, disease-free zones, peste de petitis ruminants (PPR) free areas, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are required to address quality and investment-related issues.

The report further said that Pakistan got market access for exporting meat to Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia during the last few months. “The size of the global meat market is $52 billion. The global market is an opportunity for Pakistan to diversify its exports, given the existing agrarian base of the country,” the report said. The UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were the top three export destinations for Pakistan’s meat during the last fiscal year, followed by Qatar and Bahrain.

Pakistan meat exports to the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar grew by 20%, 18%, 34% and 22%, respectively during last fiscal year. According to Ministry of Commerce, the relevant authorities of Pakistan and China are negotiating for allowing meat export. To address the concerns of Chinese authorities regarding FMD, Pakistan’s government was undertaking a vaccination programme and establishing an animal quarantine zone in the Cholistan region of Punjab province. Pakistani and Chinese relevant authorities are expected to hold meetings early next year for resolving the concerns to finalise the meat export agreement.

The report said that 34 registered slaughterhouses in Pakistan had been allowed by the Animal Quarantine Department to export meat. These production units are producing beef, mutton and poultry meat. According to International Trade Centre (ITC) trade map, China, the US, Japan, Germany and the Republic of Korea were the top five meat markets in 2021. The US, Brazil, Australia, Netherlands, Spain and Canada were the top five meat exporting countries during the same year.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk