A high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, was held in Islamabad with a delegation from Türkiye. The delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Irfan Neziroglu, Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, while the meeting was hosted by Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye in the livestock sector, particularly in livestock production, meat processing, animal health systems, and the promotion of livestock exports. The Turkish delegation comprises experts from livestock, genetics, animal disease control, certification, logistics, and cold chain sectors who are visiting various livestock facilities and slaughterhouses in Pakistan to assess existing capacities and identify opportunities for modernization of the sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized that the livestock sector is a key pillar of Pakistan’s agricultural economy. He noted that modernizing livestock production systems, improving meat processing facilities, and strengthening animal health management are essential for enhancing food security and increasing exports of livestock products.
The Minister highlighted Pakistan’s interest in benefiting from Türkiye’s experience, advanced technologies, and expertise in livestock management and meat processing. He stressed the importance of improving Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards, strengthening regulatory compliance with international requirements, and enhancing traceability systems across the livestock value chain to make Pakistan’s livestock sector more competitive in international markets.
During the meeting, discussions also focused on the establishment of a disease-free pilot region in Pakistan to facilitate the export of livestock and animal products. The proposed initiative would include strengthened disease monitoring, improved vaccination protocols, and compliance with international regulatory standards.
Both sides also discussed the introduction of modern digital animal tracking systems to enhance livestock traceability and disease control. Cooperation in vaccine supply and potential future joint production of vaccines for diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) was also explored.
The meeting further discussed collaboration in developing modern, international-standard slaughterhouses and improving cold chain infrastructure to support the export of meat and livestock products.
Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Irfan Neziroglu, stated that Türkiye is keen to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in the livestock sector. He noted that Turkish experts are visiting various livestock facilities in Pakistan to study existing systems and will propose practical recommendations to help modernize the sector and make it more export-oriented.
Chairman PARC, Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, highlighted that enhanced cooperation in research, technology transfer, and technical expertise between the two countries can significantly improve the productivity and quality of Pakistan’s livestock sector.
It was agreed that based on the ongoing technical consultations and field visits, the Turkish experts will prepare a comprehensive report and cooperation roadmap outlining practical steps for modernizing Pakistan’s livestock sector. The Turkish delegation will continue visiting livestock facilities across Pakistan and present recommendations aimed at transforming the sector into a modern and export-oriented industry.
