Pakistan's meat processing industry thrives with retail sector expansion

The booming retail sector of Pakistan has created new avenues for the business community for expansion and the government for increasing tax collection besides creating new jobs for the youth.

Hafiz Muhammad Kashif, owner of a medium-range meat processing unit, has found new business horizons in the backdrop of the growing retail sector of the country.

His unit, Muzammil Foods Private Limited, located in Raiwand city near Lahore, is equipped with modern facilities to process red and white meat. He has all the required certifications to work and supply fresh meat to some international and domestic retail chains operating in the country.

Though dealing with livestock and selling meat is Kashif's family business, his forefathers ran it in the traditional way like operating a butcher shop. Kashif himself had earlier opted to follow the traditional method of selling meat, primarily beef and mutton, as he was not familiar with modern ways of doing business in this category.

The entry of multinational retail giants into Pakistan has sparked demand for semi-processed quality meat, hence their managements are usually tasked with searching for meat suppliers who can invest in modern processing facilities and ensure continued supply as per global standards.

"I started supplying beef to Dubai-based retailer Carrefour in 2009," Kashif told The Express Tribune. "It convinced me to continue working for it therefore I decided to avail the opportunity and build my business on modern lines."

He shared that proper training, spanning about four months, was given to him in which he learnt new ways of sourcing live animals, traceability, slaughtering as per Halal procedures, hygiene checklist, product specifications and warehouse management.

Pakistan is blessed with a rich livestock population and for many people in rural areas it is the primary source of livelihood. However, when it comes to supplying meat, the country lags behind and remains unable to gain a modest share in the global Halal food market.

According to statistics, Pakistan has a meagre share of 0.25% in the $3trillion international Halal food market.

Locally, a few companies are supplying processed red and white meat through their retail outlets but their share remains small.