Commerce Desk
ISLAMABAD :The FPCCI held a Dairy Round Table on Dairy Sector Reforms at FPCCI Capital House, calling for immediate start of Islamabad Safe Milk City pilot and stronger safe milk laws aligned with global benchmarks. Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain was Chief Guest.
Organized by FPCCI Standing Committee on Dairy & Dairy Products, conference focused on level playing field, securing formal sector future, and growth challenges.
FPCCI Capital Office Chairman Karim Aziz Malik said dairy is vital for economy, farmer incomes, public health and exports.
Minister Rana Tanveer said safe nutritious milk is central to food security and rural livelihoods.
Convener Dr. Shehzad Amin (COO, PDA) said Pakistan is among top milk producers, with 8 million rural families dependent, 35-40% income from livestock. Consumers spend PKR 8.2 trillion yearly, only Rs372bn in formal segment, Rs7.9tn in informal. 95% informal sector lacks safety checks; UVAS study found 92% loose milk samples failed standards, while formal 5% is safe, tested, traceable.
*At stake:* 40% children under five stunted, 17.7% wasted, 28.9% underweight; 25.7% women vitamin D deficient; USD 14bn annual health spend.
*Way forward:* PDA proposed 3 pillars – farmer wellbeing via genetics, feed, health; FDI as Pakistan is last dairy frontier with interest from China, Saudi Arabia, UAE; export growth beyond current USD 500m via yield improvement.
Immediate actions demanded:
1. Enforce robust safe milk legislation
2. Start Islamabad Safe Milk City pilot now – 2.4m residents, 700,000 litres daily consumption, 3,992 operators – to ensure safe tested traceable milk, integrate operators, cut milk-borne illness
It was agreed to form joint working group of FPCCI, PDA, CDA and Islamabad Food Authority under Minister Rana Tanveer to advance pilot, with recommendations sent to Federal Government.
