Pakistan, China to expand cooperation in livestock, meat export sector

July 17, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan and China have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the livestock sector, with a particular focus on increasing Pakistan's meat exports to China through Chinese investment in modern slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities.

The agreement came at a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain with a visiting Chinese delegation to discuss expanding bilateral livestock cooperation, said a press release issued.

Welcoming the delegation, the Minister said Pakistan possessed enormous potential in the livestock sector owing to its large animal population, strategic geographic location, and growing capacity to produce high-quality halal meat, noting that livestock remained a vital pillar of the agricultural economy, contributing significantly to value addition, rural livelihoods, and GDP.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said China was among the world's largest consumers and importers of meat, presenting a major opportunity for Pakistan to expand its export footprint.

He invited Chinese investors and companies to set up state-of-the-art slaughterhouses and modern meat processing facilities in Pakistan equipped with advanced technology, international hygiene standards, cold-chain infrastructure, and traceability systems to produce premium-quality halal meat for export.

He said the government was committed to facilitating foreign investment in the agriculture and livestock sectors through a business-friendly environment, policy support, and close institutional coordination, adding that investment in modern slaughtering and processing infrastructure would boost exports, generate employment, improve value addition, strengthen food safety standards, and raise farmers' incomes.

The Chinese delegation appreciated Pakistan's livestock potential and expressed keen interest in cooperation in meat processing, technology transfer, quality assurance, and export-oriented infrastructure.

Both sides agreed to enhance technical collaboration, facilitate business-to-business partnerships, and work closely on regulatory and sanitary requirements for increasing meat exports to China.

Concluding the meeting, Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the government's commitment to transforming Pakistan's livestock sector into a globally competitive industry, expressing confidence that stronger Pakistan-China cooperation in livestock and meat processing would contribute to food security, promote sustainable agricultural growth, and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

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