Pakistan to Establish National Livestock Vaccine Plant to Boost Meat and Dairy Exports

Shehbaz Sharif orders a one-week deadline for a plan to manufacture livestock vaccines locally, restructure the livestock development board and expand value-added exports.

October 19, 2026 at 10:26 PM
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to establish a national-level plant to manufacture modern livestock vaccines using indigenous resources, as the government moves to strengthen animal health, improve dairy and meat production, and expand exports from the livestock sector.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the initiative on Monday while chairing a high-level meeting on livestock sector reforms, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

He directed officials to prepare a strategy within one week for setting up the proposed vaccine manufacturing plant at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), with the aim of promoting domestic production of purified livestock vaccines.

Pakistan moves towards local vaccine production

During the meeting, officials informed the prime minister that livestock vaccines currently available in Pakistan were not approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). They said steps were being taken to initiate the domestic production of purified vaccines to address the issue.

The proposed plant is intended to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to produce livestock vaccines locally, potentially reducing reliance on imported products while supporting animal health and productivity.

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The initiative forms part of broader efforts to reform the livestock sector, which plays an important role in Pakistan’s agricultural economy and supplies meat and dairy products for domestic consumption and export markets.

Livestock board to undergo restructuring

Shehbaz Sharif also ordered the restructuring of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board, established in 2007 to promote livestock breeding, increase milk and meat production, and support the sector’s development.

He directed officials to present a restructuring plan without delay, emphasising that the board should become an effective and functional organisation with the involvement of experts from the private sector.

The prime minister also urged private businesses to play a greater role in developing the livestock industry, highlighting the need for collaboration between the government and industry to improve productivity and competitiveness.

Focus on value-added meat and dairy exports

The prime minister directed officials to integrate imported livestock kept in special bonded warehouses into a value-addition process and ensure that meat and dairy products derived from the animals are exported.

The government is also working to establish dedicated bonded warehouses for imported livestock, while officials briefed the meeting that third-party audits of slaughterhouses had begun.

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The measures are aimed at improving oversight and supporting the production of value-added livestock products for international markets.

During the meeting, officials also briefed the prime minister on progress in livestock sector reforms and initiatives to increase exports.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Musadik Masood Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema and Jam Kamal Khan, as well as Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and representatives of relevant institutions.

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