Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine production, livestock development, agricultural training and value-added food exports, with both countries emphasizing the need to translate their longstanding partnership into practical initiatives.

The agreement was discussed during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, in Islamabad on November 4, 2026.

According to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, the meeting focused on strengthening institutional partnerships, technical cooperation, human resource development and collaboration between relevant ministries, universities and livestock experts.

Türkiye to Support Pakistan’s Local FMD Vaccine Production

Domestic production of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines emerged as a major priority during the discussions.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain informed the Turkish side that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided to seek Türkiye’s technical support for developing Pakistan’s indigenous FMD vaccine production capacity.

The Turkish Ambassador expressed his country’s willingness to extend technical assistance and confirmed that a Turkish technical delegation would visit Pakistan to explore potential areas of cooperation.

The proposed collaboration is expected to focus on technical expertise and opportunities for strengthening Pakistan’s veterinary vaccine production capabilities.

FMD remains a major animal health concern for Pakistan’s livestock sector, affecting productivity and creating challenges for international livestock and meat trade.

Pakistan has also been pursuing other initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic veterinary vaccine production. In a related development, VNV previously reported on an FMD vaccine technology transfer agreement between Ziest Therapeutics and Shanghai Shenlion.

Training Programme for 100 Pakistani Professionals Discussed

Capacity building and agricultural training formed another important part of the meeting.

Pakistan informed Türkiye of its plan to send an initial group of approximately 30 participants under a proposed training programme for 100 professionals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified potential Turkish institutions, while coordination with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is underway to finalize participating universities, priority disciplines and training arrangements.

Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroglu offered to facilitate direct institutional linkages with Turkish universities, particularly those specializing in agriculture.

The programme is intended to strengthen technical knowledge and professional capacity through cooperation between educational and research institutions of both countries.

Pakistan and Türkiye Discuss FMD-Free Zones and Meat Exports

The meeting also highlighted the relationship between livestock disease control, domestic vaccine production and Pakistan’s ambitions to expand meat exports.

Both sides discussed the establishment of disease-free zones and improving access to international meat markets, particularly Türkiye.

Strengthening animal health standards, vaccination capacity and disease surveillance could support Pakistan’s efforts to improve livestock productivity and meet international sanitary requirements.

However, the establishment of officially recognized FMD-free zones requires comprehensive disease surveillance, biosecurity measures, animal identification, movement controls and compliance with relevant international veterinary standards.

In this context, Pakistan’s existing disease-control initiatives remain relevant. VNV has previously covered Punjab’s feasibility study initiative for establishing an FMD-free zone with vaccination.

Pakistani Livestock Delegation Preparing Report on Turkish Expertise

The meeting also reviewed recent exchanges between livestock experts from Pakistan and Türkiye.

A Pakistani delegation recently visited Türkiye to study its livestock sector, production systems and relevant technical practices.

The delegation is preparing a report identifying practical areas where Turkish experience could be adopted to support livestock development in Pakistan.

The findings are expected to help identify future priorities for technical collaboration and institutional cooperation.

Cooperation in Olive Processing and Value-Added Agriculture

In addition to livestock and veterinary vaccine production, both countries discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation in olive processing and value-added agricultural products.

The meeting reviewed Türkiye’s earlier assistance through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) for an olive oil production facility in Muzaffarabad.

According to the ministry, the facility has reportedly benefited approximately 5,000 farmers.

Pakistan expressed interest in extending similar initiatives to olive-producing regions of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chakwal and Attock.

The discussions emphasized improved processing facilities, value addition and better market opportunities for agricultural producers.

Both Countries Emphasize Practical Implementation

Pakistan and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to moving beyond discussions toward implementation through technical teams, institutional partnerships and targeted joint initiatives.

Both sides agreed that closer engagement between ministries, agricultural universities, technical specialists and relevant institutions would help convert bilateral commitments into practical results.

The proposed cooperation covers several strategic areas, including animal health, veterinary vaccine manufacturing, agricultural education, livestock productivity and export-oriented food production.

Why This Matters for Pakistan’s Livestock Sector

Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed livestock, including cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats.

The disease can cause significant production losses and restrict international trade in animals and animal products.

Strengthening domestic FMD vaccine manufacturing capacity could support Pakistan’s broader efforts to improve vaccine availability, animal disease prevention and livestock-sector resilience.

The effectiveness of such cooperation will ultimately depend on technical agreements, manufacturing standards, appropriate vaccine strains, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and coordinated disease-control programmes.

International veterinary guidance on FMD surveillance, prevention and disease status is provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

VNV Insight: A Step Toward Stronger Veterinary Vaccine Capacity

The proposed Pakistan-Türkiye cooperation represents a potentially important opportunity for Pakistan’s livestock and animal health sectors.

Technical collaboration on FMD vaccines could complement ongoing domestic vaccine-development programmes and support wider efforts to strengthen animal disease control.

For the veterinary industry, the next important developments will be the Turkish technical delegation’s visit, identification of participating institutions, the scope of potential technology transfer and a clear implementation framework.

At this stage, the ministry has announced technical cooperation and proposed initiatives. It has not announced the commissioning of a new FMD vaccine manufacturing facility or a confirmed production schedule under this bilateral initiative.

Progress in these areas could eventually contribute to improved livestock health, stronger local veterinary biotechnology capabilities and better conditions for international meat trade.

Source: Government of Pakistan, Ministry of National Food Security & Research. Official Press Release, November 4, 2026.

Official Reference: Pakistan-Türkiye Cooperation in FMD Vaccine Production and Livestock Development

Published by: The Veterinary News & Views (VNV)