THE recent decision by the government to approve the halal meat export policy is a step in the right direction, and is good for the development of the country’s livestock sector. The arid and semi-arid areas of the country, especially Thar in Sindh and Cholistan in Punjab, happen to be suitable for profitable meat farming. Sindh possesses a livestock population of more than 70 million heads, which is 26 per cent of the national livestock population.

Included among them are some of the best breeds for producing quality meat, milk, wool and hair. Also, livestock is useful in terms of increasing land fertility and the production of organic crops. Livestock is the main source of earning for those living in rural areas. Their contribution is pivotal as they breed the animals for milk and meat production, and supply it to urban areas.

Globally, it is a well-established fact that irrigated areas are conducive to dairy farming, while arid and semi-arid areas sustain meat and wool farming better. Australia has designated three production zones; a dairy production zone in irrigated areas, a meat production zone in semi-arid areas, and a wool production zone in arid areas. The Longreach area in Australia is an arid area, like the Thar desert in Sindh, and has evolved as a wool production zone.

It is now called the ‘wool capital of the world’ and the ‘centre of golden fleece’. Such a development plan enables the Australian economy to hinge entirely on the livestock sector for its sustenance.

The desert area of Thar starts from Badin and continues along Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas and all the way to Sanghar. It possesses some of the best cattle breeds in the country: the Tharparkar and Kankrej. On it part, Cholistan possesses the Cholistani, which is also among the best cattle breeds in the country.

These breeds produce high-quality meat because their growth rate is fast, their calving rate is encouraging even on regular fodder, and their adult male weigh more than 500kg. The beef obtained from well-fattened adult male is above 55pc of body weight. However, the age of breed maturity is overwhelmingly delayed due to poor breeding and feeding practices, and the absence of proper management. The farmers in Thar sell more than two million immature and weak calves every year to butchers for slaughtering.

If Thar and Cholistan are designated as meat production zones through the establishment of a meat company for better breeding, management, nutrition and disease control facilities on a cooperative basis, the age of maturity can be reduced by at least one year, and the bodyweight can be further increased.

For further increment in overall meat production, the slaughtering age of animals must be strictly regulated. The trade of animals should be linked to their weight, incentivising every farmer to fatten the animals properly before selling. Through such pragmatic measures, national meat exports can be enhanced significantly.

Dr Baz Muhammad Junejo
Ex-Secretary, Livestock & Fisheries
Government of Sindh
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026