Out of the total global market of halal meat and beef worth $3.35 billion, share of Pakistan is only $163 million or 5.70 percent.
The shares of global halal meat of Brazil, India and Australia are 54 percent, 11 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively.
All our neighbouring Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran and Afghanistan are dependent on imported halal meat and beef and Pakistan can increase its share if halal meat and beef is exported rather than exporting live animals.
Strategic expert on halal meat and skin, Agha Saiddain said, “There are still a large number of Muslims in Muslim countries who avoid meat and beef imported from non-Muslim countries and this can be an excellent marketing tool for Pakistani exporters.”
Commenting on visiting team of Sichuan International Chamber of Commerce Halal Food Professional Committee led by Chairman Ma Zhujin, Chengdu and showing interest to establish business collaborations with Pakistani counterparts in agriculture, livestock and dairy development, food and fruit processing, pharmaceutical and other sectors Saiddain said that export and smuggling of live animals should be stopped immediately.
Millions of Chinese Muslims were living in Sichuan and Pakistan can get vast benefits to strengthen bilateral business relations in these economic sectors.
Export of halal meat may be encouraged by giving interest free loans for setting up modern slaughter houses in the country.
Ministry for Commerce should take cognisance of situation in order to encourage hala meat export rather than smuggling of live animals.
Unchecked smuggling and in grab of export of live animals from Karachi, Gwadar, Quetta and Peshawar has dented value-added export manifold, he lamented.
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 government functionaries take serious measures for improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions, our halal meat export could increase manifold.”
It has been observed that a number of live animals being exported from Quetta and Peshawar is much higher than the quota available.
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 79 kilogrammes (kgs) per capita consumption of meat and beef in developed world, per capita consumption in Pakistan is only 39 kgs.
If present policy continues then there will be an acute shortage of live animals in the country so much that slaughtering (qurbani) will be beyond reach of middle-class in Pakistan.
Meanwhile 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.
According to Agricultural Counselor, USDA, current scenario of imports from USA in food sector, saying US is one of biggest supplies of food products and beverages to scores of countries.
Published in Daily Times, September 8th 2018.