Lack of inertia shown by the ministry of commerce has failed Pakistan to capture the $5 billion Halal beef left over market due to the ban on cow slaughter in India.
An official source said that the ministry of commerce had initiated no efforts to facilitate Pakistani meat exports, especially in the Middle East, where Pakistan could easily replace India.
Pakistan has a 100 percent Halal meat production base, majority of new abattoirs are compliant with the international standards. If the ministry of commerce projects it properly, the meat exports will pick pace. The ban in India could help Pakistan swiftly increase its meat exports provided the government facilitates the local industry, the source added.
Pakistani meat exports are of far superior quality than India, as Pakistanis like meat of young cattle whereas India exports meat of aged animals. Pakistan mainly exports frozen carcasses whereas the top global exporters prefer selling cut meat in packing that gives more profitable returns.
It is important to mention that Pakistan is ranked 18th in the production of Halal meat market and its volume is only 2.9 percent of the global Halal meat production. There is no Muslim country included in the list of first 10 Halal meat exporters, even though the Muslim states are top meat consumers. According to official data, Pakistan’s halal meat exports have grown at a rate of 29 percent from $14 million in 2003 to $230 million in 2014.
