PCJCCI seeks to boost halal meat export to China

Says Pakistan can earn foreign exchange by promoting its highquality meat

LAHORE:

The Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has urged the government to boost export of halal meat from Pakistan to China.

Talking to the export promotion committee of the chamber, PCJCCI President SM Naveed said that there was a big gap in the world meat trade, which needed to be filled and Pakistan had the potential to increase its exports and earn foreign exchange by promoting its high-quality meat worldwide.

He said that Pakistan had the fourth largest livestock population in the world - 180 million animals growing at 4.2% annually, but its exports were lagging far behind due to limited modern techniques and skilled labour. The PCJCCI chief called for taking Chinese assistance to get training, enhance skills and adopt modern techniques according to world standards. He said that by exporting meat to China, millions of dollars could be contributed to the national economy.

“Pakistan’s government is already in talks with the Chinese government on allowing import of meat from Pakistan,” he added. PCJCCI Senior Vice President Daud Ahmed urged the government and private sector to establish state-of-the-art slaughter houses to win the Chinese market. “We can develop specific brands as per specific needs of the Chinese people,” he said.

PCJCCI Vice President Khalid Raffique Choudhry said that the government should lay down a concrete strategy for the promotion of halal meat exports in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. PCJCCI Secretary General Salahuddin Hanif said that currently China was importing meat from Vietnam, Brazil and Australia, which were struggling to meet the demand while maintaining the standards.