Pakistan has secured its position as the fourth-largest milk producer in the world, contributing approximately 7 percent of total global milk production. This ranking reflects the country’s vast dairy herd and the central role of livestock in Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, despite the large herd size, milk productivity per animal remains significantly low. On average, the milk yield of Pakistan’s local breeds is only one-fourth of that achieved by high-yielding international dairy breeds. This widening gap between overall production and per-animal productivity highlights the immense untapped potential of Pakistan’s dairy sector.
Experts note that public and private sector investments have not kept pace with the sector’s true capacity. Structural challenges—including low productivity per animal, weak value chain development, high post-harvest losses, and limited dairy processing facilities—have reduced Pakistan’s competitiveness in both domestic and international dairy markets.
At a time when global dairy trade expanded to nearly US$50 billion in 2024, Pakistan continues to miss significant export opportunities. Under the URAAN Pakistan framework, the government has set ambitious targets to boost exports and substantially reduce food imports, including dairy products, by 2029.
To understand stakeholder perspectives, identify investment bottlenecks, and propose policy, regulatory, and development reforms, the Planning Commission of Pakistan is organizing a Dairy Sector Stakeholders Conference on February 4, 2026, at the Main Auditorium, P-Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad.
The conference aims to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to shape a sustainable, competitive, and export-oriented dairy sector. Stakeholders with extensive experience in the dairy industry are encouraged to participate and share insights critical to the sector’s long-term development.