Pakistan can earn foreign exchange by exporting meat: CM

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, has said that Pakistan could earn precious foreign exchange by exploiting the international market of Halal meat.
He said that a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse had been set up at Shahpur Kanjran for providing fresh and hygienic meat to the people of the provincial metropolis.
Addressing the board meeting of Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO), here on Friday, he said that 35 lakh animals would be slaughtered in this slaughterhouse annually which was equipped with the latest technology and besides fulfilling the local needs it would also make it possible to export certified Halal meat of international standard to Malaysia, Middle East, Europe and other countries.
Similarly, he said, the slaughterhouse would especially benefit the local livestock sector as well as promote the trend of cattle farming.
Minister for Agriculture, Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Advocate General Punjab, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Agriculture, Livestock, Finance and Law departments, District Coordination Officer Lahore and members of Board of Directors of PAMCO were present. The meeting reviewed the project of the slaughterhouse and supply of healthy and hygienic meat of international standard to the people. The Chief Minister said that the trade of Halal items had become an industry of billions of dollars annually and was continuously expanding.
He said that the demand for Halal items in different countries of the world was increasing day by day and Pakistani investors could introduce themselves at an international level through the supplying of fresh, quality products in this growing market. He said that Halal meat had been exported to Malaysia from Punjab for the first time in national history, therefore, local investors and exporters should benefit from the increasing opportunities in Halal food industry through continuous hard work and dedication.
The CM further said that the slaughterhouse at Shahpur Kanjran could be operated in two shifts and 500 large animals and 6,000 small animals could be slaughtered under scientific conditions in one shift. He said that Punjab government had done away with the old and obsolete system of slaughtering of animals and set up a slaughterhouse of international standards. He said that this slaughterhouse was a benchmark of Punjab government in the livestock sector of the country and also had international certification in Halal industry. He said that Meat Technology Institute had also been established with the collaboration of University of Veterinary and Health Sciences for establishing the meat industry on scientific lines.
He said that this institute would produce highly qualified experts for harmonizing the meat industry with the demands of the modern age.
The CM further said that provincial government was strengthening national economy through development of livestock sector. He said that investment in livestock sector would help eliminate unemployment besides development of this sector as an industry would increase exports of the country.
He said that the livestock sector could bring prosperity to the people and especially benefit rural economy. The meeting also decided to the appointing of the new Chief Executive Officer of PAMCO while a four member committee headed by Secretary Livestock would manage the slaughterhouse for the time-being.