President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan said that the government is now focusing on the production and export of Halal products to get share in the trillion dollars market. He was speaking at a seminar on "Export of Halal Food and White Revolution," jointly organised by MCCI and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on Thursday.
He further said that South Punjab was the most suitable area for agro-based business and the seminar would help promoting the livestock, farming, increase and preservation of milk production, export of halal meat and dairy products and their certification. Pakistan would start export of halal meat to Malaysia, and in this regard negotiations with Kuala Lumpur were on advanced stages, he said.
It is interesting to note that the Malaysian government was importing two-third of its meat from India. He said Malaysia could import at least 60,000 tons of meat from Pakistan if it chooses to do so. "We have provided information about the livestock, veterinary and other details to the Malaysian government. After evaluation, it would authorise export of halal meat from the private sector in Pakistan."
Pakistan was already exporting meat to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other gulf countries. During 2008-09, Pakistan exported 23,855 tons of meat worth $74.4 million. It also exported 94,000 animals to Afghanistan that amounted to $12.35 million. During the same period meat production stood at 2.2 million tons.
The export is about 1.8 percent of the total production. The export of meat would economically help Pakistan rural population directly or indirectly. Once the export of meat to this important member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) starts, it would also attract foreign investment in Pakistani livestock sector that has a huge potential.
Last month, Malaysian Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Seri bin Haji Omar along with a delegation visited various private sector slaughter houses and held meetings with the Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Mohammad Gondal, and assured provision of share in its meat import.
There were huge investment opportunities in the agriculture sector of Pakistan. Pakistan had a list of items that could be traded in Malaysia including rice and meat. In order to capture halal food market in the world Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development (MinLDD) had introduce "Halal food production technology and certification system", which would help increase the country's exports in international markets especially in Muslim countries, he said.
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