Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved a comprehensive plan to restructure Pakistan's livestock sector on corporate lines and boost exports by allowing duty-free livestock imports for specialised rearing farms before re-exporting them. Chairing a review of reforms, the prime minister ordered private sector experts to design and execute changes, including dedicated export farms stocked with superior-breed animals and tracked via a modern tagging system.

Highlighting that livestock makes up over 60 percent of agriculture, Sharif gave the government two weeks to present a targeted eradication plan for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, while the Ministry of National Food Security coordinates disease clearance with provinces and slaughterhouses obtain international certification. Officials reported that Pakistan holds 245 million head of livestock valued at Rs 5.5 trillion, contributing 14.97 percent to the national economy and 63.6 percent to agriculture while supporting 8 million rural families.

Meat exports reached $530 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, primarily destined for Gulf states such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, with potential growth identified in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and China. The government has initiated a national animal disease surveillance program, established FMD-free zones, introduced digital vaccination monitoring, and set a target to further increase meat exports by 2028.