ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has approved an ambitious roadmap to boost halal meat exports to Malaysia from the current negligible $38,000 to $200 million within the next 3-5 years, under direct instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The decision was taken in a high-level inter-ministerial committee meeting jointly chaired by Special Assistant to PM Haroon Akhtar Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, and Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The committee granted formal “industry status” to the halal meat sector, paving the way for subsidized electricity, gas tariffs, duty exemptions on machinery, and easier financing. A detailed business plan with clear timelines and responsibilities has been finalized after extensive consultation with public and private stakeholders.
Key initiatives include establishment of modern slaughterhouses meeting Malaysian standards, aggressive vaccination and control of foot-and-mouth disease, improvement in cold-chain logistics, and dedicated financial incentives through the State Bank and commercial banks.
Haroon Akhtar Khan declared, “These measures will enable Pakistani halal beef and buffalo meat to capture a significant share of the global market while creating thousands of jobs and valuable foreign exchange.”