Prime Minister Approves Halal Meat Export Policy, Seeks Comprehensive Strategy to Boost Exports

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved Pakistan’s Halal Meat Export Policy and directed the relevant authorities to present a comprehensive three-year strategy, including practical measures, within the next two weeks to significantly increase halal meat exports.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office media wing, a review meeting on the halal meat export policy was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, and other senior officials.

During the meeting, the prime minister instructed officials to propose actionable recommendations to enhance production committees, improve cold storage facilities, and strengthen other supporting factors to expand Pakistan’s share in the global halal meat export market. He emphasized the need for close coordination between all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments to develop an effective and unified export strategy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that special measures must be taken to increase halal meat production in line with international standards and regional production competitiveness. He stressed the importance of establishing organized centers, in collaboration with federal ministries and provincial governments, to enhance both the production capacity and nutritional value of halal meat.

Highlighting the global potential of the halal meat market, the prime minister noted that there is considerable scope for Pakistan to increase its exports not only to Muslim countries but also to the broader international halal market. He assured full government support for obtaining international certification for slaughterhouses and facilitating bilateral registrations with other countries.

The prime minister further directed that the business model for halal meat exports should be developed in accordance with internationally recognized best practices. He also called for special initiatives to ensure disease-free livestock, improve hygiene standards at slaughterhouses, and reduce production costs, particularly to enhance competitiveness in regional markets.

During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that Pakistan’s total halal meat production stands at approximately 6 million metric tons, with a substantial surplus available for export after meeting domestic demand. They added that the establishment of special disease-free zones and dedicated centers is essential to boost exports, along with initiatives to increase production capacity and introduce world-class packaging standards.