PESHAWAR: President Livestock Welfare Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mohammad Asif Awan has called for aligning national natural and agricultural potentials with modern standards to overcome financial losses amounting to billions of rupees annually. In a statement, he has said that only four percent of milk undergoes processing, while the remaining is lost under substandard conditions. If the government implements effective policy reforms, strictly enforces food safety standards, and adopts modern export certification systems, Pakistan could generate an additional USD3 to USD5 billion in annual export revenue. He urged the government to immediately formulate a national livestock export policy, establish disease-free zones, and modernize systems for animal health, vaccination, and traceability using advanced technology. International quality certification must be made mandatory for slaughterhouses and milk processing units, while outdated, substandard facilities should be shut down. A coordination cell comprising the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, food authorities, and the Trade Development Authority should be established to ensure export standards are met, and financial incentives, training, and streamlined certification processes should be introduced for exporters. He said that the implementation of these measures can strengthen its economy through milk and meat exports, stabilize the rural economy, and secure a prominent position in the global Halal food market. Otherwise, despite possessing natural resources, we will continue to rely on others. He said that Pakistan is among the world’s major producers of milk and meat, yet its performance in the export sector is extremely disappointing. Billions of dollars are lost annually due to institutional weaknesses, a lack of policy, and a failure to meet international standards. Pakistan produces approximately 65 million tons of milk and around 6 million tons of meat (comprising both red meat and poultry) annually. Based on these figures, Pakistan ranks among the top ten to twelve meat-producing nations globally, while it holds the fourth position in milk production. Despite this, Pakistan’s exports of milk, dairy products, and meat remain extremely low. Even with the rising global demand for milk and meat, Pakistan has failed to significantly capitalize on these markets—a clear indication of serious policy and institutional failure. Pakistan currently ranks as the fourth-largest milk producer and is among the prominent meat-producing nations; yet, the volume of its exports has failed to rise beyond a few tens of millions of dollars. Neighbouring countries such as India, Turkey, and Iran are exporting billions of dollars’ worth of dairy products and Halal meat, whereas Pakistan lags behind in the export sector despite its fundamental agricultural strength. There are several reasons for this failure. Primarily, the institutions responsible for food safety regulations, veterinary control systems, and animal health monitoring in Pakistan are fragmented and weak. A lack of coordination is evident among the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, and various food authorities—such as the Punjab Food Authority, Sindh Food Authority, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, and Balochistan Food Authority. Each entity operates within its own limited scope, whereas an integrated system is required to meet international standards. Another major issue is the lack of compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards. Global markets import meat and dairy products only from countries that have effective systems for traceability, disease control, and animal welfare. In Pakistan, not only is the traceability system non-functional, but slaughterhouses, milk collection centers, and processing units also fall short of required standards. Most public and private slaughterhouses lack proper facilities for hygiene, cold chain management, and waste disposal; this not only hampers exports but also adversely affects public health. A lack of an export certification framework and institutional coordination also poses a major obstacle to exports. There is no clear coordination among the Pakistan Halal Authority, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and provincial veterinary laboratories. Consequently, the export process has become complex, costly, and inefficient. Exporters are forced to make rounds of multiple agencies, while the confidence of global buyers is eroding. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research bears the primary responsibility for formulating an effective national livestock export policy, establishing disease-free zones, and ensuring compliance with global SPS standards. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Farmers advocate for aligning natural, agri potentials with modern standards
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