Tajikistan has shown strong interest in purchasing 100,000 tons of meat from Pakistan, an import order valued at over $50 million and a significant boost for bilateral agricultural trade. The development emerged during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Tajikistan’s Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda, where the ambassador highlighted his country’s plans to expand agricultural imports, particularly meat products. Both sides agreed to sign a formal agreement soon to initiate large-scale meat exports.
The minister assured Tajikistan of Pakistan’s full cooperation in meeting its food and livestock needs. The discussion also covered the broader trade relationship, noting that Pakistan currently exports rice, citrus, and mangoes to Tajikistan, but volumes remain below potential. Despite producing 1.8 million tons of mangoes annually, Pakistan exported only 0.7 metric tons to Tajikistan in 2024, while rice exports were just 240 metric tons in 2022 compared with domestic production of 9.3 million tons. Pakistan’s main import from Tajikistan continues to be ginned cotton.
Both sides emphasized the need to improve trade volumes by addressing technical and logistical hurdles and agreed to pursue a comprehensive roadmap for agricultural cooperation. Plans include expanding trade in fresh produce, meat, and staple crops, enhancing research partnerships, creating pest-free production zones, improving compliance with global standards, and strengthening capacity in modern farming practices. They also underscored the importance of scientific collaboration and innovation to support long-term agricultural development.
