Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the Halal Meat Export Policy and issued special directions to present, within two weeks, a three-year comprehensive strategy comprising practical measures to increase halal meat export.
“A comprehensive strategy, formulated through coordination among all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, is essential to make Pakistan’s share in the halal meat market of Muslim countries and the global market, significant”, the prime minister said while presiding over a meeting on meat export policy and sector’s reforms.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the committee established to enhance Pakistan’s halal meat export market to present doable proposals to improve production, cold storage, and other related factors.
He also directed to take special measures to increase halal meat production in livestock in accordance with international standards and to remain competitive with regional production volumes.
The prime minister stressed that the organized centers, developed through cooperation between relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, were urgently needed to enhance the production and nutritional value of halal meat.
There is considerable potential to increase Pakistan’s export share not only in Muslim countries but also in the global halal meat market, the prime minister noted, and assured that the government will provide full support for international certification of slaughterhouses in Pakistan and for bilateral registrations with other countries.
He also directed to take special measures to ensure disease-free conditions and international-standard hygiene arrangements in slaughterhouses across the country.
To enhance halal meat exports, particularly in the regional context, the prime minister directed to ensure minimizing costs in this sector.
The business model for increasing halal meat exports should be developed by benefiting from globally recognized best practices, the prime minister emphasized.
He stressed the need to establish special zones and centers to increase exports of disease-free halal meat from the country.
During the briefing, the prime minister was informed that Pakistan’s total halal meat production stood at 6 million metric tons, and after fulfilling domestic requirements, a substantial quantity was available for export.
“Special measures are being undertaken to increase halal meat production and ensure international-standard packaging”, the prime minister was informed.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and other relevant government officials.