Pakistan is planning to expand exports of premium buffalo embryos and advanced dairy genetics to China as part of efforts to diversify agricultural exports and strengthen cooperation in livestock biotechnology.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting in Islamabad between Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and a visiting Chinese delegation. Both sides reviewed prospects for exporting Neeli Ravi buffalo embryos and enhancing collaboration in animal genetics, dairy productivity, and modern breeding technologies.
Officials from the Ministry of National Food Security said growing international demand for high-yield dairy genetics is opening new avenues for investment and export growth in Pakistan’s livestock sector. The Chinese delegation expressed strong interest in expanding joint work on genetic improvement and embryo transfer technologies.
Pakistan’s livestock industry accounts for more than 60 percent of the agricultural economy, making it a key contributor to national income. Authorities are increasingly promoting indigenous breeds, particularly the Neeli Ravi buffalo and Sahiwal cattle, as high-value biological assets with strong export potential.
The Neeli Ravi buffalo, primarily raised in Punjab, is globally recognized for superior milk production and breeding efficiency. Through embryo transfer technology, embryos from genetically superior animals can be implanted into surrogate livestock, enabling rapid multiplication of high-quality dairy herds.
Pakistan officially began exporting buffalo embryos to China in 2022 after Chinese regulators approved embryos produced through in vitro fertilization techniques. In 2024, Pakistan completed its first commercial shipment of 10,000 Neeli Ravi buffalo embryos to China under a landmark export agreement.
Officials said the program has already produced tangible results, with more than 400 calves born in China using Pakistani buffalo genetics through embryo transfer initiatives.
Rana Tanveer Hussain stated that Pakistan’s elite dairy breeds can significantly enhance agricultural trade cooperation with partner countries, especially China.
The ministry added that talks also covered regulatory mechanisms and material transfer agreements aimed at safeguarding Pakistan’s genetic ownership while promoting long-term collaboration in livestock biotechnology.
