Pakistan is preparing to export boiled meat to China, a move that could boost the country’s export industry. According to the Commercial Councilor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, the agreement to import meat was made during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in November last year. The two sides are currently in the process of exchanging documents, and the deal is expected to be implemented within the next month.
To ensure the meat is free from foot and mouth disease (FMD), it will be boiled up to 70 degrees centigrade before export. Three processing plants in Karachi – Fauji, Tata and Green – have been approved by the Chinese authorities, and are ready to start exporting to China.
In order to increase exports and take advantage of this opportunity, Abdul Qadir, the Commercial Councilor, stressed the need for Pakistan to work on the value chain and adopt corporate farming. Modern techniques should be used to improve processing facilities and increase quality.
Pakistan currently exports around 66,000 tons of meat annually, but the Chinese market’s demand is huge. One Chinese company is said to have a plan to import 50,000 tons of meat, but Pakistan is keen to avoid a shortage of beef or high prices of this food item in the domestic market.
According to the Commercial Councilor, Pakistan’s fruits, vegetables and meat meet international export standards. The export of meat is expected to play a significant role in achieving Pakistan’s export target of $10 billion to China in the future. While Pakistan’s livestock population is currently dual-purpose, focusing on both dairy and meat, other livestock exporting economies have developed different breeds for dairy and meat purposes. By investing in technology and corporate farming, Pakistan can increase its meat production and strengthen its position as a key exporter to China.
