Muhammad Saleem

Punjab currently lacks pet food manufacturing facilities, offering investors a tremendous opportunity to develop this growing market. Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Akbar Ali, a former officer of Punjab Livestock Department, said despite being an agricultural nation with a strong reliance on diverse crop and livestock production, Pakistan ironically lacked domestic pet food manufacturing facilities. The pet industry is booming worldwide, involving millions of dollars, he added.

“This sector is being ignored in Pakistan. For decades, we have focused on livestock for human consumption — dairy, poultry, and meat – and have not yet devised a strategy to treat pet care as part of agriculture or industry sectors. However, this approach is changing fast as urban lifestyles evolve and pet ownership increases,” he explained.

“This is a ripe time to invite local and international investors to tap into this potential sector, because we are spending a hefty amount on imported pet foods. Pet lovers are moving away from traditional foods, which is why the demand for quality pet food is surging. The demand for quality pet food exists — what is missing is local production,” he remarked.

Hasnain Haider, who deals in pet trading, told Wealth Pakistan that Punjab was home to hundreds of pet lovers, but it was sad to note that the province lacked pet food manufacturing facilities. He said all cat and dog food available in the market was imported from Turkey, Thailand, or Europe. Pet lovers have to spend a hefty amount on pet food every month. The number of pets is increasing across the country, and the absence of pet food manufacturing presents a golden opportunity for investors to build a homegrown industry.

Customers have been complaining of the surging rates of imported pet food, compelling some of them to switch to home-cooked meals like chicken, rice, or bones. However, he claimed, these meals are not always nutritionally balanced. “A local factory can change everything for pet lovers and the local economy. Local production will surely stabilize prices, while offering fresh food and multiple options for buyers,” he added.

Akbar Ali said Pakistan’s agro-economy is perfectly suited for pet food manufacturing. “We are already producing maize, rice, meat by-products, and fish meal, which are essential ingredients for pet food.” “The missing pieces that need to be addressed include technology, research, and quality control standards. Incentives for investors, such as tax breaks or import duty relaxation on machinery, will quickly attract investment to this sector, he said.

“We cannot say that this is just a business opportunity; it is an entirely new industry capable of creating jobs and attracting local and foreign investment,” he said. A spokesperson for the Industries Department said the Punjab government fully determined to provide necessary assistance to the investors wishing to launch ventures in this sector.

Credit: INP-WealthPk