July 27, 2026
 

Pakistan and China agree to expand livestock and halal meat export cooperation

The two countries have agreed to develop modern slaughterhouses, meat processing facilities and cold chain infrastructure as Pakistan looks to grow its meat exports to China beyond the Rs142.3 billion (US$512 million) recorded in FY2023-24.

Pakistan and China have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the livestock and meat export sectors, with both sides committing to promote the establishment of modern slaughterhouses, meat processing facilities and export infrastructure, following a meeting between Pakistan's Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and a Chinese delegation.

Pakistan exported beef, mutton and poultry to China worth Rs142.3 billion (US$512 million) in fiscal year 2023-24, according to Pakistan's statistics bureau. The country produces six million metric tonnes of halal meat annually, with a substantial volume available for export after meeting domestic demand. Hussain said Pakistan has the livestock resources and production capacity to supply high-quality halal meat, and outlined plans to improve cold chain systems, traceability mechanisms and technology adoption to support export growth.

The cooperation agreement builds on Pakistan's halal meat export policy approved by the prime minister in December 2025, which includes a three-year action plan targeting Muslim and global markets. The policy outlines regulatory reforms, disease control measures and upgraded slaughterhouse standards aligned with international requirements.

Commercial activity in the sector is already under way. In September 2025, Karachi-based The Organic Meat Company Limited (TOMCL) secured a US$7.5 million order to export cooked or heat-treated frozen boneless beef to China, followed by an US$8.1 million contract with Gold Crest Trading FZE for frozen boneless beef exports to the UAE for industrial and household processing.

- Arab News