# Duty-free livestock imports for export farms: PM orders foot-and-mouth plan

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/duty-free-livestock-imports-for-export-farms-pm-orders-foot-and-mouth-plan)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 6 Oct 2026
Updated: 6 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 6 Oct 2026

> Shehbaz Sharif wants imported high-yield breeds raised on special farms to lift meat exports beyond $530 million. What was approved and what it means for farmers.

**Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved duty-free imports of high-yield livestock breeds** for special farms that will raise the animals for export, [Radio Pakistan reported](https://www.radio.gov.pk/05-10-2026/pm-approves-establishment-of-special-farms-for-livestock-export) after a meeting on the livestock sector on Monday 5 October 2026. The aim is to grow Pakistan's **meat exports, about $530 million in 2025-26**, mostly to the Gulf.

## What the PM approved

1. **Special export farms** that import superior, high-yielding breeds, raise them and export them.
2. **No import duty** on livestock brought in for these farms. The exact duty being waived and the date it takes effect have not been notified yet.
3. **A modern tagging system** so every exported animal can be traced.
4. **Restructuring of the livestock sector "on corporate lines"**, with private-sector expertise.
5. **A roadmap within two weeks** to eliminate **foot-and-mouth disease**, the main reason Pakistani meat is shut out of many markets.
6. **International certification of slaughterhouses** and third-party checks against global standards.

## The sector in numbers

| | |
|---|---|
| Animals | 245 million, worth about Rs 5.5 trillion |
| Share of the economy | 14.97% |
| Share of agriculture | 63.6% |
| Milk a year | 74.69 million tonnes |
| Meat a year | 6.31 million tonnes |
| Rural households in livestock | About 8 million |
| Meat exports, 2025-26 | About $530 million |
| Main buyers | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar |
| New markets targeted | Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China |

Figures from the government briefing, as reported by Radio Pakistan and [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com/news/2035049/pm-approves-livestock-export-expansion-plan). At today's rate of Rs 277 a dollar, $530 million is roughly **Rs 147 billion** a year; check any conversion on our [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter).

## Why it matters

Dawn notes that **small farms and fragmented supply chains** have held exports back, and that disease surveillance, **foot-and-mouth disease-free zones** and halal certification are already in progress. Gulf buyers pay for chilled and frozen meat that is certified disease-free, and Malaysia and China require slaughterhouses that pass foreign inspection. That is why the PM tied the duty waiver to tagging and certification.

## What it means for you

- **Farmers and investors:** the duty waiver applies to animals for the special export farms, not to ordinary imports. Wait for the SRO from the Federal Board of Revenue or the Ministry of National Food Security before you place an order abroad.
- **Meat buyers at home:** nothing changes yet. More export demand can push up local mutton and beef prices over time, while imported high-yield breeds are meant to raise output.
- **Starting a farm:** register the business first; our guides on [business registration](/guides/business) explain the steps.

We will update this story when the duty exemption is notified.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is livestock import now duty-free in Pakistan?**

The PM approved duty-free imports of high-yield breeds for special export farms on 5 October 2026. The exemption still has to be notified, and it covers animals for those farms, not all livestock imports.

**How much meat does Pakistan export?**

About $530 million in 2025-26, mainly to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, according to the government briefing.

## Sources

- PM approves establishment of special farms to boost livestock exports (Radio Pakistan): https://www.radio.gov.pk/05-10-2026/pm-approves-establishment-of-special-farms-for-livestock-export
- PM approves livestock export expansion plan (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2035049/pm-approves-livestock-export-expansion-plan
- PM Shehbaz approves duty-free livestock imports for specialised farms to boost exports (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633142/pm-shehbaz-approves-duty-free-livestock-imports-for-specialised-farms-to-boost-exports

How to cite: "Duty-free livestock imports for export farms: PM orders foot-and-mouth plan", Searchable, 6 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/duty-free-livestock-imports-for-export-farms-pm-orders-foot-and-mouth-plan