Punjab is preparing for a major leap in its agricultural economy as the provincial government moves forward with an ambitious plan to export one million livestock animals. The initiative, spearheaded by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, comes after the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with seven entities, including a Chinese global meat company, marking a significant push to expand Punjab’s presence in international halal meat markets.
Under the framework of the agreement, the Chinese company in collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO) will establish a boiler unit in Punjab to enable large-scale processing of meat for export. Officials have outlined a structured supply chain in which meat from around 300,000 animals will be directly processed for export, while additional livestock categories including buffaloes, cattle, sheep, goats, and rams will be fattened and reared specifically to meet international demand.
Alongside export facilitation, the government is introducing wide ranging reforms to modernize the livestock sector. These include mechanization support with up to 60% subsidies on equipment such as milk chillers and feed mixers, as well as plans to establish state-of-the-art veterinary hospitals in every tehsil. Mobile veterinary dispensaries will also be deployed to improve access to animal healthcare at the village level, strengthening rural support systems.