{
  "id": 12032916,
  "title": "Farmers advocate for aligning natural, agri potentials with modern standards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/farmers-advocate-for-aligning-natural-agri-potentials-with-modern",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T00:09:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40442636/farmers-advocate-for-aligning-natural-agri-potentials-with-modern-standards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PESHAWAR—The President of the Livestock Welfare Association of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Asif Awan, has urged the integration of Pakistan's natural and agricultural resources with modern standards. This strategic move could help mitigate the annual financial losses estimated at billions of rupees, largely due to poor processing conditions. Awan emphasized that only four percent of milk undergoes processing, with the remaining being wasted in substandard circumstances. He believed that with effective policy reforms, stringent food safety standards, and the adoption of modern export certification systems, Pakistan could potentially generate an additional USD3 to USD5 billion in annual export revenue.\n\nAwan advocated for the immediate formulation of a national livestock export policy, the establishment of disease-free zones, and the modernization of systems for animal health, vaccination, and traceability through advanced technology. He stressed that international quality certification should be mandatory for slaughterhouses and milk processing units, while outdated facilities should be closed down. He also proposed the creation of a coordination cell comprising key government bodies, such as the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, food authorities, and the Trade Development Authority. This cell would ensure that export standards are met, and provide exporters with financial incentives, training, and streamlined certification processes.\n\nThe implementation of these measures, according to Awan, could not only enhance Pakistan's economy through milk and meat exports but also stabilize the rural economy and establish the country as a key player in the global Halal food market. Despite being a major producer of milk and meat, Pakistan's performance in the export sector remains disappointing. The country loses billions of dollars annually due to institutional weaknesses, lack of policy, and failure to meet international standards. Pakistan produces approximately 65 million tons of milk and around 6 million tons of meat annually, ranking among the top meat-producing nations globally and fourth in milk production. However, the exports of milk, dairy products, and meat remain low, despite rising global demand.\n\nPakistan currently ranks as the fourth-largest milk producer and a prominent meat producer; yet, its export volumes have not increased significantly beyond a few tens of millions of dollars. Neighboring countries like India, Turkey, and Iran are exporting billions of dollars' worth of dairy products and Halal meat, outpacing Pakistan despite its agricultural potential. The reasons for this failure include fragmented and weak institutions responsible for food safety regulations, veterinary control, and animal health monitoring. Lack of coordination among government bodies is evident, with each entity focusing on its own limited scope. Furthermore, non-compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards hampers exports, as global markets import meat and dairy products only from countries with effective traceability, disease control, and animal welfare systems.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "Integration of natural/agri resources with modern standards urged to reduce losses.",
    "Four percent of milk processed; rest wasted in poor conditions.",
    "Proposed national livestock export policy to generate USD3-5 billion annually."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}