Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant authorities to formulate a strategy within one week for setting up a national-level livestock vaccine production plant at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). In a major push to overhaul Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sector, the Prime Minister also ordered the immediate restructuring of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB).
The decisions were announced during a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to evaluate ongoing reforms and export-boosting initiatives in the livestock domain.
Key Highlights & Directives
1. National Vaccine Production Plant at NARC
- 1-Week Strategy Deadline: The government will fund and establish a state-of-the-art facility to produce modern, purified, and effective livestock vaccines domestically using local resources.
- Regulatory Compliance: During the briefing, officials revealed that existing livestock vaccines available in Pakistan lack authorization from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The new NARC facility aims to fill this critical gap with standardized local manufacturing.
2. Overhaul of the Livestock and Dairy Board
- Private-Sector Leadership: The Prime Minister emphasized inducting private sector experts into the LDDB to transform it into a dynamic, performance-driven institution.
- Mandate: Established in 2007, the board is responsible for improving livestock breeding, boosting milk and meat yield, and strengthening overall livestock infrastructure.
3. Boosting Value-Addition & Exports
- Special Bonded Warehouses: Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the establishment of special bonded warehouses for imported livestock. Under this mechanism, imported animals will undergo processing and value addition to produce high-grade meat and dairy items strictly targeted for international markets.
- Quality & Standards: To ensure compliance with international sanitary and health standards, third-party audits of domestic slaughterhouses have officially commenced.
“The private sector must lead from the front in driving the evolution of Pakistan’s livestock industry, particularly in expanding value-added products and unlocking export potential.”
— Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
High-Level Representation
The meeting was attended by key cabinet members and senior officials, including:
- Rana Tanveer Hussain (Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research)
- Ahsan Iqbal (Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives)
- Azam Nazeer Tarar (Federal Minister for Law & Justice)
- Dr. Musadik Masood Malik (Federal Minister for Petroleum)
- Ahad Khan Cheema (Federal Minister for Economic Affairs)
- Jam Kamal Khan (Federal Minister for Commerce)
- Bilal Azhar Kayani (Minister of State for Finance)
