The Punjab government has unveiled a Rs149.9 billion public private investment plan to strengthen the meat and dairy value chains across the province, aiming to raise Pakistan’s livestock exports beyond $4 billion through modern slaughterhouses, processing facilities, disease control measures, supply chain reforms and farmer support programmes.
Punjab unveils Rs149.9bn plan to raise livestock exports beyond $4bn
ISLAMABAD, Jul 20 (APP): The Punjab government has unveiled a Rs149.9 billion public private investment plan to strengthen the meat and dairy value chains across the province, aiming to raise Pakistan’s livestock exports beyond $4 billion through modern slaughterhouses, processing facilities, disease control measures, supply chain reforms and farmer support programmes.
Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan describe the livestock sector as one of the country’s most promising untapped export industries.
The initiative seeks to boost meat and dairy production, improve compliance with international standards and expand Pakistan’s share in global export markets.
Pakistan’s meat exports currently stand at $517 million, accounting for just 0.3 per cent of the global meat market.
The United Arab Emirates remains the largest destination, receiving 38.4 per cent of exports, followed by Saudi Arabia with 29.1 per cent, Kuwait with 9.4 per cent and Qatar with 6.3 per cent.
Under the proposed programme, the government will provide Rs59 billion in financing support while private sector investment is expected to reach Rs70 billion across the livestock value chain.
The meat value chain plan covers the entire production cycle from farm gate livestock to slaughtered carcasses, chilled and frozen meat, edible offal, processed meat products, by products and the gelatin and collagen industry.
Planned investments include meat processing plants costing Rs2.7 billion per unit, modern slaughterhouses and meat offal processing facilities at Rs2.1 billion per unit, commercial scale feedlots at Rs750 million per unit, corporate feedlots at Rs4 billion per unit and integrated meat packing houses costing Rs4 billion each.
The private sector is expected to invest Rs65 billion in the meat value chain, while the government will provide a financing subsidy of Rs19.1 billion to strengthen certification systems and ensure compliance with international standards.
According to the documents, the initiative is projected to increase milk and meat yields by 25 per cent, create more than 15,000 jobs each in the meat and dairy sectors and boost meat exports by 200 per cent.
Post slaughter losses are also expected to decline by 12 per cent, while milk and meat imports could be reduced by $40 million.
The government has also proposed investments to strengthen the dairy value chain through milk processing facilities, milk collection centres, cold chain logistics, livestock financing, farmer training, disease control measures and supply chain support systems.
Pakistan’s milk exports currently stand at $26.2 million, representing just 0.0001 per cent of the global dairy market.
Despite Punjab being home to nearly 57 million cattle and buffaloes, dairy exports remain minimal and post harvest milk losses are estimated at 20 per cent.
The proposed dairy value chain will include raw milk collection, rural dairy products, fat based dairy products, fermented dairy products, cheese, dairy ingredients, nutraceuticals, functional dairy products and export oriented dairy production.
Planned investments include milk pasteurisation and packaging plants costing Rs30 million per unit, butter and ghee processing units at Rs83 million per unit, ice cream processing plants at Rs150 million per unit and milk powder processing plants at Rs300 million per unit.
Farm level investments will include total mixed ration wagons at Rs10 million per unit and milking parlours at Rs25 million per unit.
Private sector investment in the dairy value chain has been estimated at Rs5 billion, while the government will provide a financing subsidy of Rs1.5 billion.
Overall, the Punjab government plans to invest Rs59 billion across the livestock value chain, including Rs29 billion for meat sector initiatives and Rs30 billion for dairy development.
Key interventions include the Punjab Livestock Card, the development of a meat free zone, supply chain support, livestock farmer training and heat transformation programmes aimed at strengthening production, expanding exports and reducing dependence on imports.
