Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, emphasized the importance of expanding halal meat exports as a driver of sustainable economic growth and development during a key meeting on Monday.
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The session, held to explore strategies for enhancing halal meat exports, was detailed in a press release by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The minister underscored the government’s commitment to growing the halal meat sector, revealing that discussions are actively underway with Malaysia.
“Government was committed to increasing halal meat exports, with ongoing discussions currently underway with Malaysia,” said Hussain. “If an agreement is finalized, halal meat exports are expected to reach $200 million within five years,” he added.
The minister noted that the initiative would not only strengthen bilateral trade relations but also uplift Pakistan’s local export economy. He highlighted broader potential areas of collaboration between Pakistan and Malaysia, including trade, investment, information technology, energy, and agriculture, with halal meat as a key focus.
He further assured that Pakistan is ready to meet the highest international quality standards and is well-positioned to export premium halal meat to Malaysia in the near future.
This development follows the recent visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister to Pakistan, during which both countries agreed on a prospective $200 million halal meat export deal. Pakistan is currently Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in South Asia.
As part of the bilateral engagement, the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council (PMBC) and the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council (MPBC) also explored the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in the halal trade sector.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industry Haroon Akhtar Khan, reflecting high-level commitment to advancing this strategic trade initiative.
