CONCEPT PAPER
Cattle Farming & Meat Processing Plant
Prepared on January 2007 by:
Dr. Junaid Ahmad
Chairman
National Management Consultants (Pvt) Ltd.
Tel: +92-21 521 6396
Fax:+92-21 521 7725
E-Mail: nmc@super.net.pk
Cattle Farming & Meat Processing Plant
INTRODUCTION
Pakistan has not been able to exploit its large livestock population to become a major player
in the international meat trade. The major reasons include; non-availability of indigenous
meat breeds, lack of proper animal husbandry, absence of modern abattoirs and meat
processing plants and the low priority which was accorded to this sector by policy makers in
the past.
The Government of Pakistan has recently announced a “Livestock Development Policy”
which has adopted a legal framework, suggests strategies and action plans for farmers, using
livestock as supplementary source of income. The policy aims to bring about a radical change
in the current livestock production system and is expected to help in the exploitation of
potentials in the livestock sector. Under this policy the import of dairy and livestock
machinery, not manufactured locally, is allowed duty free; in addition, the policy aims at
encouraging the establishment of slaughterhouses in the private sector and allows access to
credit for the small farmer.
MARKET / NEED ASSESSMENT
The total market for meat products in the Middle East is currently estimated at US$ 12 billion
while the international market for “halal’ foods is estimated at US$ 200 billion which is
expected to grow to US$500 billion in the next few years. Middle Eastern countries
especially provide a good opportunity for Pakistan as a supplier of Live Cattle and Meat. The
Supply and Demand Gap for the Middle East is shown below:
(in thousand tons)
Country
Production
Consumption
GAP
Saudi Arabia
25,630
75,630
50,000
Egypt
440,000
533,000
93,000
Bahrain
1,440
4,600
3,220
Oman
4,148
18,000
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