Tajikistan has shown strong interest in purchasing 100,000 tons of meat from Pakistan, a potential deal worth more than USD 50 million, as both countries move to deepen their agricultural and trade cooperation.
The development came during a meeting in Islamabad between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yusuf Sharifzoda, the information ministry said in a statement.
Meat exports on the agenda
During the discussion, Ambassador Sharifzoda conveyed Tajikistan’s intention to expand its agricultural imports from Pakistan, particularly meat products. Officials expect a formal agreement for large-scale meat exports to be signed soon.
Rana assured the ambassador that Pakistan would fully support Tajikistan’s requirements and said Islamabad remained committed to helping meet the country’s food and livestock needs.
Trade remains far below potential
Both sides reviewed the current trade situation and noted that existing volumes fall short of the available potential. Pakistan already supplies rice, citrus, and mangoes to Tajikistan, but the quantities remain minimal.
Despite producing 1.8 million tons of mangoes every year, Pakistan exported only 0.7 metric tons to Tajikistan in 2024. Rice exports also remain low at 240 metric tons in 2022, compared with the country’s annual output of 9.3 million tons. Pakistan’s main import from Tajikistan is ginned cotton.
Officials from both countries agreed that there is room to expand trade and address the technical and logistical hurdles that currently limit the flow of goods.
Roadmap for stronger agricultural cooperation
The two sides committed to working on a broader roadmap for future cooperation. This includes boosting trade in fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and staple crops, strengthening research collaboration, and improving compliance with global standards.
They also discussed plans to establish pest-free production zones and build the capacity of stakeholders in areas such as phytosanitary measures and modern farming practices. Exchanging scientific knowledge and encouraging innovation were identified as key steps for promoting sustainable agricultural development.
The discussions signal a renewed push from both Pakistan and Tajikistan to unlock greater trade opportunities and strengthen ties in the agriculture sector.
