In a significant development for Pakistan’s meat industry, China has granted approval for the import of Pakistani meat, a move that is expected to boost meat exports from Pakistan. Umair Ahmad Khan, the representative of Hardoi Livestock and Meat Company, made this announcement during Pakistan’s first International Food and Agriculture Exhibition held recently in Karachi.
This event witnessed participation from over 400 delegations representing 55 countries, with China sending the largest delegation to the Expo.
Umair Ahmad Khan explained the details of this development, stating, “The Chinese government has given some specifications and standard operating procedures for boiled and heat-treated meat.” The interest from Chinese enterprises extends beyond meat and includes products like chili, with many expressing readiness to set up industrial units in Pakistan.
Ghulam Qadir, the Commercial Counselor of the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, led a delegation of approximately 110 Chinese representatives from Beijing and neighboring provinces to the Expo. He commented on the growing interest from China, saying, “China had agreed to import meat from Pakistan. Pakistan is all set to start exporting boiled meat to the Chinese market.” During the Expo, meat stalls attracted significant attention from Chinese visitors.
Umair Ahmad Khan highlighted Pakistan’s potential as a meat exporter, stating, “Pakistan is one of the world’s leading cattle and buffalo producers. We have the second-largest population of buffaloes and the sixth-largest cattle population in the world. We can produce high-quality buffalo meat.” Khan, who previously focused on Gulf States, Middle Eastern states, and Central Asian countries as the primary market, is now looking to export heat-treated meat, frozen beef, and boneless meat to China.
“The Chinese government has recently concluded an agreement that heat-treated meat from Pakistan can be imported to China. We have a big potential market in China if our producers can produce such standard-compliant meat,” Khan added.
Mirza Waqas Baig, another meat exhibitor from the Organic Meat Company, emphasized the significance of China as a meat consumer. He noted, “China is probably the largest meat consumer in the world. There was no approval in Pakistan to export to China before, now there is approval. We would like to cater to this market and increase our exports there.”
During the Expo, deals worth $410 million were made, including the signing of 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). Data indicates that Pakistan’s exports to China are steadily improving, with the export of meat poised to play a pivotal role in achieving Pakistan’s export target of USD 10 billion to China in the future.
