PM Shehbaz Announces National Plant To Produce Livestock Vaccines
Listen3 min
Read aloud by your device’s built-in synthetic voice, not a recording. Needs a browser that can read aloud.
✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced plans on Monday, October 19, 2026, to establish a state-of-the-art national plant for producing modern, purified livestock vaccines using federal government resources. Chairing a high-level review on livestock sector reforms in Islamabad, the Prime Minister directed relevant ministries to present a comprehensive strategy within one week to set up the facility at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).Key structural reforms, regulatory updates, and export development initiatives include:Regulatory Compliance & DRAP Alignment: The meeting disclosed that existing livestock vaccines in Pakistan currently lack formal approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The new NARC facility will focus on DRAP-compliant, purified vaccine production to align domestic animal health standards with global import requirements.Restructuring of LDDB: The Prime Minister ordered an immediate restructuring of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB) (originally established in 2007).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced plans to establish a national-level plant for producing modern livestock vaccines using government resources, as Pakistan seeks to strengthen animal disease control and improve meat and dairy exports.
Chairing a high-level meeting on livestock-sector reforms on Monday, the prime minister directed officials to prepare a strategy within one week for establishing the facility at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
DRAP Approval and Domestic Production Goals
The meeting was informed that livestock vaccines currently available in Pakistan lacked approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The proposed facility aims to support domestic production of purified vaccines and improve access to effective disease-prevention products for livestock farmers.
Shehbaz also ordered the restructuring of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB), established in 2007 to promote livestock breeding and increase milk and meat production. He called for the inclusion of private-sector experts to improve the board’s effectiveness and directed officials to prepare a restructuring plan.
Bonded Warehouses and Private Sector-Led Value Addition
The prime minister further directed authorities to develop value-added export opportunities involving imported livestock held in special bonded warehouses. He emphasised that the private sector should play a leading role in developing the livestock industry and expanding its commercial potential.
Officials briefed the meeting on ongoing reforms to increase livestock-related exports, including third-party audits of slaughterhouses and measures to establish special bonded warehouses for imported animals.
Strategic Context and Global Market Access
The vaccine plant announcement follows earlier government initiatives to strengthen animal health infrastructure. In July, Shehbaz announced full federal funding for developing an indigenous foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, identifying disease control as an important requirement for expanding livestock exports.
Pakistan’s livestock sector supports rural livelihoods and supplies the country’s meat and dairy industries. Improved vaccination, disease surveillance, traceability and processing facilities could help reduce production losses and support access to international markets, where animal-health and food-safety standards are important export requirements.
