Tajikistan plans to buy $50 million worth of Pakistani meat under agreement to be finalized soon

Tajikistan plans to buy 100,000 tons of meat from Pakistan in a deal valued at more than $50 million, officials said Tuesday, a move that would mark one of the largest agricultural export agreements between the two countries.

The plan was discussed in a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Tajik Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda. Both sides said they expect to finalize a formal agreement soon.

Hussain told the ambassador that Pakistan has significant capacity to export livestock products, high-quality agro-commodities and value-added food items to regional markets. He said Pakistan would fully facilitate Tajikistan’s requirements once the deal is signed.

Sharifzoda said Tajikistan is seeking to expand agricultural imports from Pakistan, particularly meat, and described the planned $50 million purchase as a major step in bilateral trade. He also invited Hussain to attend Tajikistan’s Cultural Week beginning Dec. 18.

The talks covered broader agricultural cooperation, with both sides noting opportunities in horticulture, research, pest management, crop improvement and food-security coordination.

Pakistan currently exports rice, citrus and mangoes to Tajikistan, though volumes remain small. Pakistan exported just 0.7 metric tons of mangoes to Tajikistan in 2024 despite producing 1.8 million tons annually, and shipped only 240 metric tons of rice in 2022 against national output of 9.3 million tons. Pakistan imports ginned cotton from Tajikistan.

Officials agreed to work on reducing technical and logistical barriers to trade and to expand cooperation on fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and staple crops. The two countries also discussed improving compliance with international standards, establishing pest-free production zones and strengthening scientific exchange.

Both delegations said the planned meat-export agreement would be a milestone in bilateral relations and could help deepen economic, cultural and agricultural ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.