Modern livestock management vital to boosting halal meat exports: Shahid Imran

LAHORE, Jun 21 (APP): Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food Shahid Imran on Sunday stressed the need to enhance Pakistan’s halal meat exports through practical reforms in production, cold storage infrastructure, disease control, breeding and international certification standards.

Talking to a delegation of progressive farmers led by Nisar Ahmad Hanif Gujjar, he said the global halal food industry was expanding rapidly, with growing demand for certified halal meat products in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries. He said Pakistan, being one of the world’s major livestock-producing countries, possessed natural advantages that could help it emerge as a leading exporter of halal meat and livestock products. However, he added, the sector required modernization and the adoption of scientific livestock management practices to fully realize its export potential.

Shahid Imran said the livestock sector could become one of the strongest pillars of the national economy if supported through targeted investment and policy reforms. He emphasized that province-specific livestock development strategies were essential, as each province had distinct climatic conditions, indigenous breeds and production capacities requiring tailored planning and investment.

He added that Punjab, the country’s largest milk-producing province, had extensive irrigated areas well suited for dairy farming and livestock development. He also highlighted the significant role of rural women in livestock care, milk processing and household dairy production, describing the sector as an important source of women’s economic empowerment.

The FPCCI convener said investment in wool processing industries, modern livestock markets, mobile veterinary clinics and meat export facilities could transform Balochistan into a major centre for meat and wool production. He added that naturally grazed animals in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offered excellent opportunities for expanding organic livestock and halal meat exports to international markets.