Pakistan’s new strategy to modernize its livestock sector

“We can revive our economy within a single year,” Mr Sharif told delegates, framing agriculture and livestock as sectors capable of turning around Pakistan’s economic fortunes if pursued with sustained focus.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses delegates during the National Seminar on “Harnessing Pakistan’s Livestock Potential” in Islamabad on July 15, 2026. The dialogue focused on technology adoption, animal health, traceability and value addition to strengthen Pakistan’s livestock industry.

The seminar drew representatives from government departments, universities, research institutions, veterinary organizations and the private sector, at a time when Pakistan is looking to position agriculture as a driver of economic growth.

One message ran through the discussions: raising livestock productivity will take more than growing herd sizes. It will depend on healthier animals, better genetics and stronger disease prevention.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, who welcomed the Prime Minister to the seminar, said the government’s sustained focus on agriculture over the past two years had already produced significant reforms, aimed at securing food supplies for Pakistan’s growing population while pushing up agricultural exports.

He noted that 1,000 agriculture graduates had already completed specialized training in China under the program, with another batch due to follow.

A fourth-largest milk producer still underperforming

Livestock accounts for the largest share of Pakistan’s agricultural economy and supports millions of rural families. Yet despite ranking as the world’s fourth-largest milk producer, the country continues to underperform on dairy and meat exports.

Experts point to limited value addition, productivity gaps and weak processing infrastructure as the reasons why. The seminar focused on practical fixes: improving efficiency from farm to market and strengthening Pakistan’s position in international livestock trade.

FMD vaccine and PAITS take center stage

Among the major announcements was the government’s decision to fully fund development of an indigenous foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, aimed at strengthening disease control and cutting reliance on imports.

Mr Sharif also inaugurated the Pakistan Animal Identification and Traceability System (PAITS), built to improve animal identification and disease surveillance, both increasingly required for food safety and market access abroad.

Technology and training in focus

Technology ran through much of the seminar’s discussion. Speakers pointed to artificial intelligence, digital livestock management and precision farming as tools for improving production efficiency, alongside modern breeding programs and stronger veterinary and extension services.

Investment in people featured too. Building on an earlier initiative, Mr Sharif announced that another 1,000 agriculture graduates would be sent to China for advanced training, giving young professionals exposure to modern production systems and farm management practices before they return to work in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.

Moving past informal markets

Much of Pakistan’s milk output is still sold through informal channels rather than processed into higher-value dairy and meat products, discussions noted.

Expanding processing capacity, tightening quality assurance and drawing in private investment were flagged as the steps most likely to improve returns for producers and open new markets, both at home and abroad.

A shift in policy thinking

The seminar signaled a broader shift in how Pakistan’s government views livestock, less as a traditional rural activity and more as a strategic economic asset.

Disease control, traceability, genetics and digital technology, the priorities raised in Islamabad, apply just as directly to the poultry sector and other livestock industries elsewhere in South Asia.

Whether the announcements translate into results now depends on follow-through: sustained investment, coordinated implementation and continued cooperation between government, research institutions and the private sector.