Pakistan to boost meat exports to Malaysia

Islamabad — Pakistan plans to expand its halal meat exports to Malaysia as the government moves to modernize processing systems and strengthen cold chain infrastructure, officials said after a high-level meeting chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan on Wednesday.

The meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Meat Export to Malaysia reviewed reports from four working groups representing the public and private sectors, including officials from the Ministries of Commerce, Industries, and Food.

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The committee discussed key constraints hindering growth in the meat export sector, including a shortage of small animals, underdeveloped feedlot finishing, and limited cold storage capacity.

Khan noted that Pakistan possesses a strong livestock base and an internationally recognized halal reputation, but called for improvements in quality, consistency, and competitiveness to access high-value markets. He said the livestock sector provides livelihood support to more than 12 million rural households, contributing about 35–40% of rural family income, according to government estimates.

Pakistan’s meat export industry, valued at around $400 million in FY2024, remains heavily reliant on chilled carcass exports primarily to the Middle East. Global competitors such as Brazil and Australia dominate frozen meat markets, which offer lower costs and better logistics. Khan emphasized that Pakistan must adopt advanced slaughtering and processing technologies, expand deboning and freezing capacity, and ensure robust halal certification systems to meet international standards.

The government also aims to incentivize buffalo meat exports, which hold potential due to strong demand in Southeast Asian markets. The committee’s recommendations include upgrading infrastructure, enhancing productivity through improved feed and breeding practices, and developing export-oriented processing zones.

Concluding the meeting, Khan announced that a comprehensive business model for enhancing meat exports to Malaysia would soon be finalized and presented to the Prime Minister for approval. The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify agro-based exports and strengthen its halal food footprint globally, with Malaysia identified as a key growth market for Pakistani meat exporters.