{
  "id": 12285606,
  "title": "PM approves livestock export expansion plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/pm-approves-livestock-export-expansion-plan",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T01:59:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2035049/pm-approves-livestock-export-expansion-plan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently greenlit an expansion plan for livestock exports in Pakistan, aiming to boost the industry through the importation of high-yield breeds. The PM directed the establishment of specialized farms for raising these superior animals, exempting their imports from duties, and implementing a modern tagging system to ensure their export. He emphasized reorganizing the livestock sector along corporate lines and leveraging private sector expertise for reforms.\n\nWith over 60% of Pakistan's agricultural sector reliant on livestock, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant export potential of this industry. He instructed authorities to craft a roadmap within two weeks, setting clear targets for eradicating foot-and-mouth disease from the country, and ordering international certification for slaughterhouses to meet global standards. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research was tasked with collaborating with provincial governments to eliminate livestock diseases.\n\nThe meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, reviewed ongoing reforms in the livestock sector and received proposals for its development and export enhancement. Officials shared that Pakistan boasts approximately 245 million livestock animals, valued at around Rs5.5 trillion ($19.6 billion). The sector contributes 14.97% to the national economy and 63.6% to the agricultural economy, with annual milk production at 74.69 million tonnes and meat production at 6.31 million tonnes. However, challenges such as small-scale farming and fragmented supply chains hinder the full realization of the sector's export potential. Officials noted that meat exports were valued at about $530 million in 2025-26, primarily to Gulf markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. New and expanded export opportunities exist in countries like Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, and others. The government has implemented various measures to stimulate livestock and meat exports, including a national animal disease surveillance and prevention program, the establishment of foot-and-mouth disease-free zones, vaccination campaigns, digital disease surveillance, export-grade farms, and international health and halal certification systems. Officials also underscored the focus on feedlot farming, cold-chain infrastructure, deboning, value-added products, and export infrastructure.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved a plan to increase livestock exports by importing high-yield breeds, raising them at specialised farms and then exporting them. He also approved restructuring the livestock sector along corporate lines and preparing and implementing reforms with the help of private-sector experts. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}