The 15th of July 2026 will undoubtedly be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of Pakistan’s livestock sector. On this historic day, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), organized a high-level national seminar and dialogue titled “Harnessing the Livestock Potential of Pakistan” at the Prime Minister’s Office, Islamabad.

This was not merely another government seminar. It was perhaps the first occasion since the creation of Pakistan that the livestock sector—its immense economic potential, persistent challenges, and future roadmap—was deliberated at the country’s highest policy forum under the Prime Minister’s Office. The significance of this event cannot be overstated. It marked the beginning of a new national realization that livestock is not simply a sub-sector of agriculture but one of the most strategic pillars of Pakistan’s economy and a key driver of sustainable national development.

The seminar brought together an impressive gathering of federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, senior government officials, eminent scientists, distinguished veterinary professionals, vice chancellors of universities, researchers, livestock experts, dairy farmers, leading poultry entrepreneurs, representatives of the private sector, development partners, policymakers, and members of civil society.

The diversity of participation reflected a growing consensus that the sustainable development of Pakistan’s livestock sector requires a coordinated national effort involving government, academia, industry, research institutions, and farming communities.

I had the privilege of participating in this historic dialogue representing the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Having served the livestock and veterinary profession for more than three decades in academic, regulatory, administrative, and financial capacities, I found the discussions exceptionally encouraging. For the first time, there appeared to be a shared understanding that Pakistan’s livestock sector deserves to be treated as a national economic priority rather than merely another component of agriculture.

Pakistan possesses one of the richest livestock resources in the world.

The country annually produces approximately 72 million tonnes of milk, making it one of the world’s leading milk-producing nations. It also produces over 6 million tonnes of meat, around 25 billion eggs, and more than 2 billion broiler birds every year. These remarkable production figures demonstrate the enormous productive capacity of the sector and its vital contribution to the country’s food security.

Livestock contributes nearly 63 percent of agricultural value added and approximately 15 percent of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). More than eight million rural families derive a substantial part of their livelihood from livestock, while millions of additional people are employed in dairy farming, poultry production, meat processing, feed manufacturing, veterinary pharmaceuticals, animal health services, transport, marketing, and value-added livestock industries. No other agricultural subsector contributes so directly to rural employment, household income, and nutritional security.

Pakistan is also blessed with valuable indigenous livestock genetic resources. The internationally renowned Nili-Ravi and Kundi buffaloes, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Cholistani cattle, Kajli and Lohi sheep, Beetal and Teddy goats, together with one of Asia’s largest camel populations, provide Pakistan with exceptional opportunities to become a global leader in quality milk, meat, breeding stock, and livestock genetics.

Beyond its economic importance, livestock plays a profound social role. Across rural Pakistan, women are the backbone of dairy production and small-scale livestock management. Income generated through milk and livestock products contributes directly to household nutrition, children’s education, healthcare, and family welfare. Consequently, investment in livestock is not merely an economic decision; it is an investment in poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, rural development, and national food security.

Pakistan also enjoys significant strategic advantages in the rapidly expanding global halal food market. With its abundant livestock resources, experienced farmers, internationally trained veterinarians and scientists, dynamic private sector, and strategic geographic location linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and China, the country possesses all the essential ingredients required to emerge as a major exporter of halal meat, dairy products, poultry products, veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, breeding material, and other value-added livestock commodities.

Despite these extraordinary strengths, Pakistan has yet to fully exploit the true potential of its livestock sector. For decades, national agricultural policies have focused predominantly on crop production, while livestock—despite contributing a much larger share to agricultural value addition—received comparatively limited attention. Investment in veterinary infrastructure, scientific research, disease surveillance, indigenous vaccine production, breeding programmes, diagnostic laboratories, value addition, processing facilities, and export development has not kept pace with the growing importance of the sector.

The consequences of this neglect are evident. Preventable animal diseases continue to reduce productivity, farmers face increasing production costs, veterinary infrastructure remains inadequate in many parts of the country, and Pakistan has been unable to realize its vast export potential despite possessing one of the world’s largest livestock populations.

The seminar at the Prime Minister’s Office therefore represented an important departure from past practices.

Throughout the discussions, there was a clear consensus that livestock must now be recognized as a strategic economic sector capable of generating employment, reducing poverty, ensuring food security, attracting investment, increasing exports, and earning valuable foreign exchange for Pakistan.

One of the defining moments of the seminar came during its concluding session when the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, graciously attended and addressed the participants. His presence transformed the seminar into an event of national significance. More than a ceremonial appearance, it reflected the Government’s resolve to place livestock development at the centre of Pakistan’s economic agenda.

For veterinarians, livestock farmers, dairy producers, poultry entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, investors, and policymakers, the Prime Minister’s participation conveyed a powerful and reassuring message: the Government of Pakistan is serious about unlocking the enormous potential of the livestock sector. His presence inspired confidence that many of the longstanding issues confronting the sector would finally receive attention at the highest level of national decision-making.

In his address, the Prime Minister acknowledged the immense contribution of livestock to Pakistan’s economy and appreciated the dedication of farmers, scientists, veterinarians, researchers, and private entrepreneurs who have sustained this vital sector despite numerous challenges. He emphasized that strengthening livestock is indispensable not only for ensuring national food security but also for accelerating economic growth, creating employment opportunities, reducing rural poverty, and increasing Pakistan’s export earnings.

The significance of the Prime Minister’s participation extends far beyond a single seminar. It symbolizes a fundamental shift in national priorities. It demonstrates that Pakistan’s highest political leadership now recognizes livestock as a strategic national asset capable of transforming the country’s economy. Such political ownership is indispensable because meaningful reforms require not only sound technical recommendations but also sustained commitment at the highest level of government.

Throughout the seminar, the discussions were practical, evidence-based, and forward-looking. Participants unanimously agreed that Pakistan possesses all the essential ingredients required for success: abundant livestock resources, experienced farmers, internationally trained veterinarians and scientists, dynamic entrepreneurs, and access to rapidly expanding regional and international halal food markets. What has been lacking is coordinated policy implementation, adequate public investment, institutional reforms, and continuity of vision.

The seminar therefore served not merely as a forum for dialogue but as the beginning of a new national movement to harness one of Pakistan’s greatest untapped economic resources. It generated renewed optimism that the country is finally prepared to transform its livestock sector into a modern, science-driven, disease-controlled, and export-oriented industry capable of making a substantial contribution to national prosperity.

The detailed technical discussions that followed focused on the major challenges confronting the livestock sector, particularly the devastating impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the urgent need for indigenous vaccine production, reforms in veterinary regulation, the challenges facing the poultry and dairy industries, and the policy measures required to build a globally competitive, export-oriented livestock economy. These deliberations produced several historic recommendations that, if implemented with sincerity and continuity, have the potential to reshape the future of Pakistan’s livestock sector for generations to come.

Among all the issues deliberated during the seminar, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) emerged as the single most critical challenge confronting Pakistan’s livestock economy. Irrespective of the subject under discussion, every panel identified FMD as one of the principal barriers preventing Pakistan from realizing the true economic and export potential of its livestock sector.

Scientists and veterinary experts explained that FMD is not merely an animal disease; it is a national economic challenge. The disease causes enormous financial losses every year through reduced milk production, poor weight gain, lower meat yields, reproductive disorders, infertility, increased mortality among young animals, and a significant decline in overall livestock productivity. Even more importantly, the continued presence of FMD prevents Pakistan from accessing premium international markets for livestock, meat, dairy products, genetics, and other value-added animal products.

During the panel discussions, I highlighted one of the most alarming realities confronting Pakistan’s livestock sector. I informed the participants that the country requires approximately 300 million doses of FMD vaccine every year to effectively protect its susceptible livestock population.

Unfortunately, Pakistan currently has access to only 20 to 40 million doses annually, leaving a shortfall of nearly 250 million doses. This massive deficit makes effective nationwide disease control virtually impossible and exposes millions of productive animals to one of the most economically devastating livestock diseases.

I further emphasized that while the proposal to establish a local FMD Vaccine Production Plant through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was well intentioned, disease prevention is fundamentally the responsibility of the State. Such a strategically important national project should therefore be fully financed by the Federal Government to ensure sustainability, affordability, uninterrupted production, and long-term national biosecurity. This viewpoint received considerable appreciation from scientists, policymakers, and fellow participants.

The discussions reflected a unanimous consensus that unless Pakistan succeeds in controlling and eventually eradicating FMD, its ambition of becoming a major exporter of livestock, meat, dairy products, and other animal products will remain difficult to achieve. Disease-free status is the foundation of international livestock trade, and no country can compete successfully in global markets without a strong animal health system.

Recognizing the gravity of the issue, the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, made what may become one of the most significant policy announcements for Pakistan’s livestock sector in recent decades.

During his address, he pledged that the Federal Government would provide the financial resources required for establishing Pakistan’s first indigenous Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Production Plant.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by veterinarians, scientists, researchers, livestock farmers, policymakers, and representatives of the private sector. The Prime Minister further directed the concerned ministries and technical institutions to immediately prepare and finalize the feasibility study so that this strategically important national project could move forward without unnecessary delay.

If implemented efficiently, this initiative has the potential to transform Pakistan’s animal health infrastructure.

Indigenous production of FMD vaccine will reduce dependence on imports, ensure a reliable supply of quality vaccines, strengthen national biosecurity, improve livestock productivity, reduce farmers’ economic losses, and significantly enhance Pakistan’s prospects of entering high-value international livestock and dairy markets.

The successful implementation of this project would not only strengthen disease control but also save valuable foreign exchange currently spent on imported vaccines.

More importantly, it would enhance Pakistan’s scientific capacity in vaccine research, biological production, and biotechnology, while creating opportunities for regional cooperation and future vaccine exports to neighbouring countries.

Another major focus of the seminar was Pakistan’s poultry industry. Eminent scientists, poultry farmers, veterinary experts, researchers, and representatives of the poultry industry actively participated in the discussions and highlighted the opportunities as well as the serious challenges confronting this important subsector.

The participants acknowledged that poultry has become the second-largest component of Pakistan’s livestock economy and is perhaps the country’s most organized livestock industry. Through substantial private-sector investment, it has achieved internationally accepted commercial production standards and has played a vital role in ensuring food security, generating employment, attracting investment, and providing affordable animal protein to millions of Pakistani families.

Despite these achievements, poultry producers explained that the industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges. Recurring disease outbreaks, escalating feed prices, rising electricity and fuel costs, increased taxation, volatile market conditions, and policy uncertainty have significantly affected profitability and discouraged fresh investment. Participants cautioned that unless timely policy interventions are introduced, Pakistan risks reduced poultry production, higher consumer prices, and slower sectoral growth.

The seminar therefore recommended that both the Federal and Provincial Governments should immediately engage with poultry stakeholders to formulate practical and sustainable policy measures that address these challenges.

Supporting the poultry industry is not merely an agricultural objective; it is essential for national food security, employment generation, industrial development, and export growth.

During one of the panel discussions, I had the opportunity to raise an issue that, in my considered opinion, is of strategic importance for the future of Pakistan’s livestock sector—the establishment of an Independent Veterinary Drug Registration Board.

I explained that the existing regulatory framework governing veterinary medicines no longer reflects the realities of Pakistan’s rapidly expanding veterinary pharmaceutical industry. When the Drugs Act, 1976 was enacted, Pakistan’s veterinary pharmaceutical sector was relatively small, with only a limited range of veterinary medicines and biological products available. At that time, regulating veterinary medicines alongside human medicines may have been appropriate.

However, the situation has changed dramatically over the past five decades. Pakistan now has a vibrant veterinary pharmaceutical industry engaged in the manufacture and import of veterinary medicines, vaccines, biological products, feed additives, diagnostic kits, nutritional supplements, and other animal health products. This remarkable growth has created scientific, technical, regulatory, and commercial challenges that require specialized veterinary expertise.

I pointed out that the existing regulatory mechanism under the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) does not adequately address the unique scientific and technical requirements of veterinary medicines.

One of the principal concerns is the limited representation of veterinary specialists in the evaluation and registration process for veterinary pharmaceuticals and biological products.
Consequently, veterinary medicines often receive inadequate attention during regulatory deliberations.

Registration matters relating to animal health products frequently appear towards the end of meeting agendas, leaving insufficient time for detailed scientific evaluation and informed decision-making.

Considering the growing contribution of livestock to Pakistan’s economy, this situation is neither desirable nor sustainable.

The quality, safety, efficacy, and availability of veterinary medicines directly influence animal health, livestock productivity, food safety, public health, antimicrobial resistance, and Pakistan’s export competitiveness. Weak regulatory oversight may result in substandard medicines, ineffective vaccines, irrational antimicrobial use, treatment failures, and significant economic losses for livestock producers.

I therefore proposed that the Government of Pakistan should establish an Independent Veterinary Drug Registration Board comprising qualified veterinary pharmacologists, microbiologists, pathologists, clinicians, toxicologists, pharmaceutical scientists, and other experts in animal health. Such a specialized institution would be better equipped to evaluate veterinary medicines and biological products, formulate veterinary-specific regulatory standards, accelerate scientific review processes, strengthen post-marketing surveillance, and ensure compliance with internationally accepted quality standards.

An independent regulatory authority would also encourage research and innovation within Pakistan’s veterinary pharmaceutical industry, facilitate investment in vaccine production, improve confidence among livestock farmers, strengthen disease preparedness, and enhance Pakistan’s credibility in international livestock trade.

I was encouraged that this proposal received a highly positive response from panel members, eminent scientists, senior policymakers, and fellow participants. Many agreed that Pakistan’s expanding livestock economy requires a modern veterinary regulatory framework comparable to those successfully operating in many developed countries. There was broad consensus that strengthening veterinary regulation is not merely an administrative reform; it is an investment in livestock productivity, food safety, public health, scientific innovation, and national economic development.

The discussions clearly demonstrated that effective disease control, modern veterinary governance, and strong scientific institutions are the cornerstones of a competitive livestock economy. Without these foundations, Pakistan will find it difficult to achieve its ambition of becoming a leading exporter of livestock and animal products.

Conversely, with visionary reforms and sustained political commitment, the country possesses every opportunity to emerge as a regional leader in livestock production, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and animal health services.

While the seminar successfully identified the major challenges confronting Pakistan’s livestock sector, it also presented a comprehensive roadmap for the future. Throughout the deliberations, one message resonated consistently: Pakistan does not lack livestock resources, scientific expertise, entrepreneurial talent, or dedicated farmers. What has been missing is sustained political commitment, coordinated policy implementation, institutional reforms, and long-term investment.

Participants unanimously emphasized that strengthening veterinary education and scientific research must become a national priority.

Universities producing veterinarians and animal scientists should be equipped with modern veterinary teaching hospitals, well-funded research laboratories, advanced diagnostic facilities, and opportunities for international collaboration. Research must be closely linked to the needs of farmers so that innovations in disease control, genetics, breeding, nutrition, biotechnology, precision livestock farming, and animal welfare can be translated into practical improvements on farms across the country.

The seminar also highlighted the urgent need to strengthen Pakistan’s veterinary diagnostic laboratories and establish an integrated national animal disease surveillance system capable of responding rapidly to emerging and transboundary animal diseases. Without a strong animal health infrastructure, Pakistan cannot protect its livestock population or meet the sanitary and phytosanitary standards required for international trade.

Another recurring theme was investment in human resources. Continuous professional development of veterinarians, , extension workers, laboratory specialists, and livestock farmers is essential for modernizing the sector. Investment in people is just as important as investment in physical infrastructure.

Participants further stressed that meaningful progress can only be achieved through close collaboration among the Federal Government, Provincial Governments, universities, research institutions, regulatory authorities, the private sector, and development partners. Livestock development cannot succeed through fragmented initiatives. It requires a coordinated national strategy with clearly defined responsibilities, measurable targets, sustainable financing, and effective monitoring.

The private sector has already demonstrated its capacity to invest successfully in dairy processing, poultry production, veterinary pharmaceuticals, breeding technologies, animal feed manufacturing, and value-added livestock products. Government policies should therefore encourage greater public-private collaboration while ensuring that strategic national responsibilities—particularly disease prevention, vaccine security, and biosecurity—receive full governmental support.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the seminar was that the discussions did not remain confined to identifying problems. Every panel focused on practical, evidence-based solutions. The recommendations reflected the collective wisdom of policymakers, scientists, veterinarians, farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders. If implemented with sincerity and continuity, these recommendations have the potential to transform Pakistan’s livestock economy over the coming decade.

As a participant in this historic national dialogue, I left the Prime Minister’s Office with renewed optimism.

During more than three decades of service in the veterinary profession—as an academic, regulator, administrator, and public finance professional—I have consistently advocated stronger political commitment to livestock development, improved veterinary governance, greater investment in disease control, enhanced veterinary education, and export-oriented policies.

It was deeply encouraging to see these issues receiving serious attention at the highest level of national leadership.

The gracious participation of the Honourable Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and his commitment to fully finance Pakistan’s first indigenous Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Production Plant represent a landmark policy decision. Equally significant was the recognition of the challenges facing the poultry industry, the acknowledgement of dairy farmers’ long-standing concerns regarding price controls, the need for regulatory reforms, and the broad consensus that Pakistan must create an export-friendly policy environment supported by rational taxation and simplified regulations.

For me, 15 July 2026 carried a special personal significance as it also marked my birthday. Having the opportunity to participate in this historic seminar on such a memorable day made the occasion even more meaningful. More importantly, it strengthened my belief that Pakistan’s livestock sector is finally receiving the national attention it has deserved for decades.

However, history teaches us that great seminars and visionary speeches alone do not transform nations. Progress is achieved only when commitments are translated into action.

The feasibility study for the indigenous FMD Vaccine Production Plant must be completed without delay. Veterinary regulatory reforms deserve serious consideration. The concerns of the poultry industry must be addressed through timely policy interventions. The pricing mechanism for milk and livestock products should be reviewed to ensure fairness for both producers and consumers. Export procedures should be simplified, unnecessary taxation rationalized, and investment encouraged through transparent and business-friendly policies.

Pakistan today possesses one of the world’s largest livestock populations, a hardworking farming community, internationally trained veterinarians and scientists, a growing veterinary pharmaceutical industry, dynamic entrepreneurs, and expanding access to regional and global halal food markets. These are strategic national assets that many countries aspire to possess. If supported by sound policies, modern technology, scientific planning, and unwavering political commitment, livestock can become one of the strongest pillars of Pakistan’s economy.

The national seminar held on 15 July 2026 should therefore be remembered not merely as another government event, but as the beginning of a new national vision for livestock development. It has opened a historic window of opportunity to reposition livestock at the centre of Pakistan’s economic planning and rural development strategy.

History remembers the moments when nations choose a new direction.

This seminar has provided Pakistan with such a moment. The vision has been articulated, the challenges clearly identified, and practical solutions placed before the nation. The responsibility now rests with governments, policymakers, scientists, universities, veterinarians, livestock farmers, exporters, investors, and the private sector to work together with unity of purpose and an unwavering commitment to implementation.

If the commitments made on 15 July 2026 are translated into concrete action with sincerity, professionalism, and continuity, future generations may well look back on this day as the turning point that transformed Pakistan’s livestock sector into a modern, disease-free, technologically advanced, export-oriented, and globally competitive industry. Such a transformation would strengthen national food security, uplift millions of rural families, generate employment, increase exports, earn valuable foreign exchange, and make a lasting contribution to Pakistan’s sustainable economic development.

The dialogue has concluded. The vision has been presented. The roadmap is before us. Now is the time to act.

Dr Alamdar Hussain Malik
Advisor Academics,University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat.
Former Secretary/ Registrar, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council