Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held a high-level meeting with Brazil’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Olyntho Vieira, to explore bilateral cooperation in livestock, dairy, meat processing and agri-food sectors. According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatimi was also present. The meeting reflected the prime minister’s interest in the livestock sector and his direction to draw lessons from Brazil’s experience.
The minister said Brazil is internationally recognised as a global leader in livestock production, meat processing, dairy development and agri-food exports. He noted that Brazil has the world’s largest commercial cattle herd, exceeding 230 million head, and is the largest exporter of beef and poultry. Beef exports reached about 2.9 million metric tonnes valued at over $12 billion in 2024. He said Brazil’s success is based on strong veterinary governance, SPS-compliant slaughterhouse systems, commercial feedlot fattening models, tropical livestock genetics and integrated value chains supported by public-private collaboration.
Highlighting Pakistan’s potential, the minister said the country has over 55 million cattle and 47 million buffalo. However, export competitiveness remains constrained by high production costs, limited feedlot finishing systems, suboptimal carcass utilisation and gaps in slaughterhouse design, meat inspection, traceability and SPS compliance. He said that despite being a Muslim country, Pakistan’s share in the global halal meat market remains minimal. In contrast, Brazil exports halal meat to many Muslim countries, underscoring the importance of institutional efficiency, quality assurance and value addition.
On the dairy sector, the minister said Brazil is among the world’s largest milk producers, with annual output exceeding 35 billion litres. He noted that production is largely based on tropical dairy systems suited to climatic conditions similar to Pakistan’s. He said Pakistan aims to modernise its dairy sector through improved genetics, feeding systems, milk quality control and processing infrastructure. He also noted that Pakistan imports soybeans, cotton and sugar from Brazil, particularly during periods of domestic sugar shortage, and said bilateral trade of nearly $1 billion currently remains in Brazil’s favour.
To institutionalise collaboration, the minister proposed a Pakistan-Brazil Joint Working Group on Livestock and Dairy Cooperation. Both sides agreed Pakistan would prepare a draft framework focusing on slaughterhouse upgrades, SPS and traceability systems, meat processing, feedlot models and dairy productivity.
