Lahore, 15-16 December 2021 – A high level delegation of government officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) was invited on an Exposure Visit to Lahore under UNIDO’s Project for Agri-Food and Agro-industry Development Assistance in Pakistan.
Hosted by the University Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), the delegation comprised representatives from the KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority (KPFSHFA), Livestock and Dairy Development Department (LDD) and KP Local Council Board (LCB). The visit showcased best practices within the meat value chain, encompassing a range of farm to shelf food operators.
Mr. Shahrukh Ali Khan (Director General, KPFSHFA), Dr. Alam Zeb (Director General, LDD), Mr. Said Rehman (Additional Secretary, LCB) and Ms. Lubna Tajik (Lead National Project Coordinator, UNIDO) led the delegation. Mr. Nasim Ahmad (Vice Chancellor, UVAS) and faculty members welcomed the representatives and introduced them to the research and operations facilities at the UVAS Department of Meat Science and Technology, spotlighting the modern operations including meat traceability and processing piloted at the UVAS Meat Shop.
The delegation visited the Oasis Commercial Feedlot Farm, Pakistan largest commercial beef operation which caters to export-based abattoirs. The delegation also appreciated the services offered by the Model Cattle Market in Sheikhupura as a first step towards establishing a modern trading facility for sellers and buyers in Pakistan. The attendees also observed best practices for abattoir operations at PAMCO (a state of art government owned slaughterhouse) and Abedin International Raiwind (a private slaughterhouse facility exporting meat to the Middle East). The visit concluded with the representatives observing the SOPs and food safety best practices following international standards at the Metro Cash and Carry, Pakistan’s biggest wholesale and retail supermarket.
This first of its kind partnership-driven exposure visit for the development and regulation of the meat industry in Pakistan was highly praised by all stakeholders. Enhancing PAFAID’s vision of promoting cooperation between regulatory authorities, R&D institutes and industry actors, the visit supported collaboration between provinces, encouraging investment and upscaling of food safety best practices across the meat value chain. Continuing the momentum for learning and cooperation, UNIDO will host technical training for food operators and dialogue for public-private partnership to support the development of high-quality meat industry in KP.
Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), PAFAID is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and aims to improve meat quality to ensure sustainable and profitable meat production for better marketability, higher profit, and access to high-end markets.