Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the halal meat export policy and directed relevant authorities to present a comprehensive, three-year strategy within two weeks, comprising measures to increase exports.

Pakistan barely has a 0.25 per cent share in the global halal food trade of more than $3 trillion, which reflects the need for the government and private sector to take proactive initiatives to explore the true potential of ‘Made in Pakistan’ products and establish a niche for itself.

The decision was made during a meeting of a committee established to enhance Pakistan’s halal meat export market, focusing on the export policy and sector reforms. PM Shehbaz was presiding over the meeting.

“A comprehensive strategy, formulated through coordination among all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, is essential and significant to make Pakistan’s share in the halal meat market of Muslim countries as well as the global market,” PM Shehbaz said.

He asked officials to present proposals for improving production, cold storage, and other related aspects of the initiative.

He also directed the relevant authorities to take special measures for increasing halal meat production in livestock in accordance with international standards and for remaining competitive with regional production volumes.

Organised centres, developed through cooperation between relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, were urgently needed to enhance the production and nutritional value of halal meat, the prime minister stressed.

“There is considerable potential to increase Pakistan’s export share in Muslim countries as well as in the global halal meat market,” he said, assuring the industry that the government would provide full support for international certification of slaughterhouses and bilateral registrations with other countries.

The premier also directed relevant authorities to take special measures for ensuring disease-free conditions and international-standard hygiene arrangements in slaughterhouses across the country.

During the briefing, the prime minister was informed that Pakistan’s total halal meat production stood at six million metric tons, and after fulfilling domestic requirements, a substantial quantity was available for export.

Special measures are being undertaken to increase halal meat production and ensure international standard packaging, the prime minister was informed by the committee.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and other relevant government officials.

In October, Malaysia expressed interest in importing $200 million worth of Halal meat from Pakistan. The following month, Jam Kamal directed all relevant stakeholders to coordinate with the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to achieve the target in meat exports to the Southeast Asian country.