The Pakistan Halal Food Authority (PHFA), which has not been functioning sinced it was formed in 2015, is expected to start operations quickly according to Rana Tanveer Hussain, federal minister for Science and Technology.
Unchecked smuggling of cattle to neighbouring Afghanistan and Iran is causing concern among exporters in Pakistan, with fears that exports will fall further as a result.
The government of India’s semi-autonomous Punjab region is planning to build the country’s most advanced pig-processing facility as India’s consumption of pork and reliance on meat imports both continue to rise.
The Pakistan government has reduced custom duty on machinery imports used in the livestock and meat industry from 5% to 2% to encourage investment in the meat industry.
The lifting of sanctions against Iran will open up new possibilities for the food sector, but growing tensions with Saudi Arabia makes GCC trade less certain.
