Pakistan maintains ban on the export of live animals

Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has decided to keep a ban on the commercial export of live animals, including sheep and goats, at the request of the Ministry of Commerce.

Sources said that the ECC, under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, discussed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research's proposal regarding the export of live sheep and goats to Kuwait on February 20, 2025.

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had instructed the Ministry of Food to seek approval for lifting the ban on live animal exports.

The ECC decided to ban the commercial export of live animals on July 30, 2013, a decision that was ratified by the Federal Cabinet on July 1, 2013, to ensure price stability in the domestic market. Since then, there has been a complete ban on the commercial export of live animals.

The MNFS&R further mentioned that there was significant demand for sheep and goats from Al-Mawashi, a prominent livestock importer in Kuwait.

Fulfilling this demand could further strengthen trade relations between Pakistan and Kuwait, attract foreign investment, introduce state-of-the-art feedlot systems, and create significant employment opportunities.

Therefore, the SIFC considered Al-Mawashi's offer to switch the import of live sheep and goats from Australia to Pakistan in its 10th Executive Committee meeting held on June 6, 2024, and reconsidered it in its 126th meeting held on January 22, 2025.

They recommended that the Ministry of National Food Security & Research consider and submit a summary for lifting the existing ban on the export of live sheep and goats to Kuwait.

The ministry also briefed that it had reviewed the population statistics of sheep and goats in Pakistan and the current volume of meat exports.

They proposed exempting the ban on the export of up to 100,000 heads of fattened male sheep and goats in a calendar year, subject to an annual review of the quota.

Moreover, the sheep and goats meant for export must originate from fattening farms with no fewer than 100 heads of male sheep or goats (verified by the provinces where such farms are located).

Further, the male sheep and goats at the time of export must be at least one and a half years old, with two incisor teeth and weighing no less than 50 kg.

An official told Nukta the Ministry of Commerce did not agree with the proposal, as it would increase meat prices in the domestic market.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan’s meat exports reached $512 million during FY24.

The agriculture sector contributes approximately 24% to Pakistan's national GDP. Within this sector, livestock is the largest contributor, making up 60.84% of the agricultural value added and 14.5% of the national GDP in 2023-24.