China approves export of Pakistani beef

The decision of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to permit Pakistani meat exporters to export beef to China has been warmly received by the business community.

Central Leader of the Progressive Group and Executive Member of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muhammad Ejaz Tanveer along with representative of Pakistan Meat Processors and Exporters, Mian Abdul Hannan, issued a joint statement expressing their satisfaction with the long-awaited decision. They highlighted that this development was a significant achievement for members of their group, particularly those involved in meat processing and exports.

The populous country of China, with its strong purchasing power, presents a highly lucrative market for Pakistani beef and other meat exports. Tanveer and Hannan urged the government to collaborate with meat exporters to devise an effective strategy for tapping into other foreign markets as well.

The recent decision by China will enable Pakistani exporters to earn millions of dollars by exporting beef to Chinese importers. However, the exporters were reminded to adhere to the guidelines issued by Chinese authorities regarding meat exports from Pakistan.

Exporters believe that with well-crafted government policies, Pakistan has the potential to earn an additional $15 billion in annual export revenue from the meat industry. Currently, Pakistan’s annual meat exports amount to a modest $334 million, while the global Halal meat market is valued at a staggering $3 trillion, according to Tanveer.

Highlighting Pakistan’s agricultural potential, Tanveer and Hannan stressed the need to promote value addition in agricultural, livestock, and aquaculture products to generate vital foreign exchange. They recommended establishing processing industries for agricultural and livestock products in rural areas to alleviate poverty and stimulate development.

While welcoming the government’s intent to develop the agricultural sector in the proposed budget for 2023-24, they emphasised the importance of taking concrete actions instead of mere rhetoric to translate these intentions into tangible progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2023.

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