PM Shehbaz Approves Duty-Free Livestock Imports to Boost Exports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a plan to growth livestock exports by importing high-yield breeds, raising them at specialized farms and then exporting them.

Key points

• Pakistan's meat exports stood at around $530 million in 2025-26, with the bulk going to Gulf markets including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
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• While around 8 million rural households are associated with livestock, annual production stands at regarding 74.69 million tonnes of milk and 6.31 million tonnes of meat.
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• The prime minister remarked more than 60 percent of Pakistan's agricultural sector is based on livestock and observed its significant export potential.

He additionally approved restructuring the livestock sector along corporate lines and directed authorities to prepare and implement reforms with the assist of private-sector experts.

For context, the prime minister directed that specialized farms be established for livestock exports and that high-yield livestock be imported for these farms. He additionally ordered that livestock imported for the specialized farms be exempted from duties. Pakistan Dairy Sector Can Unlock Rs. 500 Billion Extra.

To ensure livestock raised at these farms is exported, the prime minister directed authorities to introduce a modern animal-tagging system. He additionally called on the livestock sector to be reorganized along corporate lines and for private-sector expertise to be applied in reforms.

Meanwhile, the prime minister remarked more than 60 percent of Pakistan's agricultural sector is based on livestock and observed its significant export potential. He directed authorities to submit a roadmap within two weeks with specific targets for eliminating foot-and-mouth disease from the country.

He additionally ordered international certification of slaughterhouses and third-party validation to ensure compliance with international standards. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research was directed to work with provincial governments to eliminate livestock diseases. Pakistan Agricultural Coalition Proposes New Wheat Backing Model for Farmers.

In practice, the prime minister further directed authorities to improve the livestock value chain and prepare targets for exports of meat, livestock and related products. Authorities stated Pakistan has around 245 million livestock animals worth regarding Rs. 5.5 trillion, with the sector accounting for 14.97 percent of the national economy and 63.6 percent of the agricultural economy.

While around 8 million rural households are associated with livestock, annual production stands at regarding 74.69 million tonnes of milk and 6.31 million tonnes of meat. Authorities stated small-scale farming and fragmented supply chains remain major obstacles to fully exploiting the sector's export potential.

Pakistan's meat exports stood at around $530 million in 2025-26, with the bulk going to Gulf markets including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Authorities identified Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China and other countries as potential markets for expanded exports.

Meanwhile, the administration is additionally working on animal disease surveillance, prevention and traceability, foot-and-mouth disease-free zones and compartments, vaccination, digital disease surveillance, export-grade farms and international health and halal certification. Other measures include feedlot farming, cold-chain infrastructure, deboning, value-added products and export infrastructure. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around PM Shehbaz Approves Duty-Free Livestock Imports to Boost Exports point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.