Daily Times

KARACHI: Out of the total global market of kosher (halal) meat and beef worth $2.97 billion, the share of Pakistan is only $33 million or 8 percent.

The shares of global kosher meat of Brazil, India and Australia are 55 percent, 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Afghanistan are dependent on imported kosher meat and Pakistan can increase its share if the meat is exported rather than exporting livestock.

Expert Agha Saiddain said, “There are still large number of Muslims in Muslim countries who avoid Halal meat and beef imported from non-Muslim countries and this can be an excellent marketing tool for Pakistani exporters.”

Export and smuggling of live animals can be stopped immediately. Export of kosher meat may be encouraged by giving interest free loans for setting up modern slaughter houses in the country.

The export and smuggling of live animals from Pakistan should be stopped and the Ministry for Commerce should take cognizance of the situation in order to encourage kosher meat export rather than smuggling of live animals.

The government has failed in stopping export of live animals from Karachi, Gwadar, Quetta and Peshawar.

However the government has approved quota for export of livestock from these ports and borders, but under misquoting of figures export volumes were high.

Again this quota is misused and under its cover smuggling of live animals from borders of Quetta and Peshawar is in practice.

An official of the Ministry of Food Security and Research said, “If the government functionaries take serious measures for the improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions, our Halal meat export could increase manifold.”

The most alarming thing is that only adult and healthy animals ready for reproduction are being exported.

This means Pakistan is exporting seed of future breed of livestock. This will create acute shortage of livestock in the country, which is already a protein-deficient nation.

As against 79kg per capita consumption of meat and beef in developed world the per capita consumption in Pakistan is only 39kg.

If the present policy continues then there will be an acute shortage of live animals in the country so much that slaughtering (qurbani) will be beyond the reach of middle-class in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the United States is potential market for Pakistan to import high quality food products meeting its local requirements through enhanced bilateral trade ties and coordination among businessmen.

“If we try to pursue United States Department of Agriculture, US could fulfill much more Pakistan’s demand of packaged food items and beverage export with several brands and variety of products.”

A senior member of Pakistan Food Association said efforts from Pakistan trade missions in the US, EU and others countries should be aimed at disseminating knowledge and seek opportunities in bilateral trade in food sector between countries and to optimise the facilitation in imports. Proper warehouses are needed in Pakistan to keep food items at required temperature.