Pakistan to start boiled meat export to China

Exports can play key role in achieving $10b target

BEIJING:

Pakistan is gearing up to export boiled meat to the Chinese market, according to Abdul Qadir, Commercial Councilor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing. The agreement to import meat from Pakistan was made during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in November last year. Both countries are in the process of exchanging documents, and the agreement is expected to be implemented in a month.

Before export, the meat will be boiled to 70 degrees centigrade to ensure it is free of foot and mouth disease (FMD). “Three processing plants, namely Fauji, Tata and Green, set up in Karachi have already been approved by the concerned authorities of China. These plants have good reputation and capacity,” said Qadir.

The demand for meat in the Chinese market is vast, with one Chinese company alone planning to import 50,000 tonnes of meat. However, the commercial councilor stressed the need to avoid a shortage of beef or high prices in Pakistan due to the increased demand from China. To meet the growing demand for meat in the Chinese market, Pakistan needs to work on the value chain and adopt corporate farming to enhance the quality of meat and increase exports.

Currently, Pakistan exports about 66,000 tonnes of meat annually, and the export of boiled meat could play a significant role in achieving Pakistan’s export target of $10 billion to China in the future. The livestock population in Pakistan is for dual purposes, dairy and meat, unlike competing livestock-exporting economies, which have developed different breeds for dairy and meat production.

Pakistan’s fruits, vegetables, and meat meet international export standards, and the country’s exports to China are gradually improving. With the potential for exporting meat to China, Pakistan needs to utilise modern techniques, improve processing facilities, and invest in technology to grab this opportunity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2023.

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