Islamabad, April 24, 2019 (PPI-OT): Mr. Robert Mack, Director, Public Affairs Europe, Middle East and Africa for Tetra Pak along with Mr. Jorge Montero, Chief Executive Officer, Tetra Pak Pakistan called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mr. Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan. The objective was to apprise the Minister for NFS and R regarding future investment, plans, challenges of the dairy industry and the support required for investment plans from the Government. Livestock is a renewable natural resource and one of the most vibrant and significant sector in the agrarian economy of Pakistan. Livestock over the years has emerged as the largest sector in agriculture by contributing approximately 58.9% of the agriculture value added and 11.1% to the national GDP.
The government has now focused this sector for economic growth, food security and poverty alleviation in the country. Pakistan is one of the leading milk producing country in the world with estimated annual gross milk production of 59.8 Million tons during 2018-19. Around 6% of total country’s gross milk production is being processed in 25 milk/ dairy processing plants operating under the private sector and producing approximately 3.5 million tons of processed milk/ dairy products annually. Tetra Pak is a major foreign investor in Pakistan and operating for the last more than a decade.
Tetra Pak plant near Lahore is capable of producing over 9 billion packages annually. Over the last seven years, the cumulative value of their exports exceeded US$ 350 million. Hence, Tetra Pak is playing a significant role in the processed food industry and dairy economy of Pakistan. Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mr. Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan said the government of Pakistan launched Agriculture Emergency Program and there are proposals that livestock sector must be developed up to its maximum potential, since Pakistan is the 5th largest milk producing country, the cooperation from these multinational companies would help to materialize the desired objective.
The Federal Minister further said there is an issue of wide spread adulteration in open milk, maximizing this facility (TETRA PACK) could address the problem to an extent. The Minister further said the Government is taking measures to curb the menace of adulteration in edible items especially milk and we are working with stake holder for devising a comprehensive policy, urging all the provinces to come forward and address the issue.
Mr. Robert Mack, Director Public Affairs Tetra PAK said that TETRA PAK is working in 160 countries. Pakistan could follow Turkey’s model as it came down from 80% loose milk to 20% in the span of 10 years. Mr. Mack said if this TETRA PAK milk is promoted in cities, it will not only provide unadulterated milk but due to the increase in number of consumers it will be cheaper as well. The Minister appreciated the contributing role of Tetra Pak by meeting and providing the international safety standards in the processed food industry particularly in the dairy industry of Pakistan. He also appreciates Tetra Pak for its plan to invest in future in Pakistan and also ensured to provide support of the Government for the betterment of local dairy sector through policy measures/ interventions.
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