Pakistan top supplier of boiled beef to China
Pakistan has firmly established itself as the leading exporter of boiled beef to China, achieving a striking 139% year-on-year increase in export value during the first half of 2025, according to official trade data released by China's General Administration of Customs (GACC).
Between January and June 2025, Pakistan's boiled beef exports to China reached a total value of $5.24 million, representing a significant rise from the $2.36 million recorded during the same period in 2024. The volume of exports also grew substantially, with Pakistan shipping 1,030,606 kilograms of boiled beef during this period. The average price per kilogram climbed to $5.47, which reflects a notable improvement in the quality standards of the product and indicates a rising demand for Pakistani meat products in the Chinese market.
This performance enabled Pakistan to outpace regional competitors, most notably Mongolia, which managed to export $3 million worth of boiled beef to China during the same six-month period. Analysts have credited Pakistan's export success to its strict compliance with China's rigorous food safety, hygiene, and quarantine regulations, particularly for heat-treated meat products such as boiled beef. The surge in exports also highlights the benefits of bilateral trade mechanisms and preferential agreements that have opened Chinese markets more widely to Pakistani goods. Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in the popularity of Pakistani halal beef among Chinese consumers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
OceanGate's Titan sub firm used ‘intimidation tactics' and had ‘critically flawed' safety practices
The US Coast Guard has released a damning report following the catastrophic implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible in June 2023, citing 'critically flawed' safety practices 'intimidation tactics' by the firm. The implosion killed all five people on board, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman. The investigation, spanning two years, concludes that OceanGate operated with 'critically flawed' safety and operational practices, repeatedly ignoring established engineering protocols for submersible design, testing and maintenance. The report reveals that the company employed intimidation tactics to evade regulatory oversight and bypass vital inspections - a practice that allowed the Titan to operate outside standard safety regimes for deep-sea vessels. Key Findings Primary cause: Failure to follow fundamental engineering safety standards led to the loss of structural integrity of the Titan's carbon fiber hull, causing an instantaneous implosion under immense water pressure (approximately 4,930 psi) about 90 minutes into a dive near the Titanic wreck. Risky design choices: The Titan was constructed from carbon fiber, a material never before validated for manned deep-sea submersibles due to its susceptibility to delamination and failure under pressure. Ignored warning signs: During a previous dive, passengers reported a loud bang—later identified as hull delamination—yet the company failed to investigate or halt operations adequately. Toxic culture and leadership: CEO Stockton Rush, who also piloted the Titan, downplayed safety concerns and allegedly prioritized customer expectations and financial pressures over safety. The company's culture was described as toxic, with staff discouraged from voicing concerns through firings and intimidation. Regulatory gaps: The report highlights a lack of comprehensive regulation governing commercial submersibles and recommends that the US Coast Guard strengthen oversight, including requiring dive and emergency plans, revoking current designations, and enhancing field support for novel vessels. Accountability and industry impact While the report finds no misconduct by the Coast Guard personnel themselves, it criticizes OceanGate's management, stating Rush exhibited negligence contributing to the deaths and could have faced criminal liability had he survived. Families of victims, including the Dawoods, have urged for meaningful reform, calling the tragedy a 'catastrophic failure' that exposes the urgent need for tighter regulation and industry accountability to prevent future loss of life. The family statement reads: 'No report can alter the heartbreaking outcome, nor fill the immeasurable void left by two cherished members of our family,' it adds. 'We believe that accountability and regulatory change must follow such a catastrophic failure,' it says, adding the family hopes the tragedy will serve as a turning point to bring 'meaningful reform, rigorous safety standards, and effective oversight' to the submersible industry. 'If Shahzada and Suleman's legacy can be a catalyst for regulatory change that helps prevent such a loss from ever happening again, it will bring us some measure of peace.' Implications for commercial deep-sea exploration The disaster and ensuing report cast a shadow over the nascent commercial deep-sea tourism and exploration industry. Investors and stakeholders are likely to demand greater transparency, adherence to rigorous engineering standards, and clear regulatory frameworks before backing similar ventures. The report's 14 recommendations, if implemented, could reshape operational protocols and regulatory oversight, signaling a shift toward enhanced safety in the sector. This tragedy underscores the delicate balance between pioneering adventure and engineering discipline, emphasizing that innovation must be matched with uncompromising safety and oversight.
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Gwadar Port Authority to partner with Chinese firm to boost investments
KARACHI: The Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) signed on Tuesday a letter of intent (LoI) with Chinese firm Xinning Enterprise to 'stimulate major industrial and commercial investments at Gwadar Port and its Free Zone', the Ministry of Maritime Affairs said. Located in Balochistan, Gwadar Port is a strategically important deep-sea port and a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive infrastructure project aimed at boosting regional trade and connectivity. Last month, the government unveiled a strategic plan to expand Gwadar Port's operational capacity by introducing new shipping lines and launching a ferry service connecting Pakistan with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 'The initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to enhance regional connectivity, boost maritime trade, and position Gwadar as a major hub in the Arabian Sea,' Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said then. 'We aim to transform Gwadar into a strategic transhipment and logistics centre, benefiting Pakistan and the wider region.' The LoI signed on Tuesday by Yi Jiang, representing Xinning Enterprise, outlined plans for diverse ventures and received by Umer Zaffar Shaikh, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on the behalf of Chairman Gwadar Port Authority while Chairman Gwadar Port Authority, Noor-ul-Haq Baloch joined the event through Zoom. 'These ventures include developing Gwadar Port as a regional transshipment center, launching new industrial projects, optimising existing facilities within the Gwadar Free Zone, and relocating industries,' the ministry said. Pakistan's PNSC partners with Chinese firm to explore maritime investments The two sides also discussed ways to boost the performance of Gwadar Port and committed to adhering to Pakistan's legal and regulatory framework governing Gwadar's port and Free Zone operations, it added. 'They also pledged continued good-faith discussions to identify investment opportunities, finalise operational details, and establish mechanisms for cooperation.' Chaudhry reaffirmed Pakistan government's commitment to transforming Gwadar into a global maritime gateway and industrial powerhouse, emphasising that collaborations with reputable international enterprises would accelerate Pakistan's maritime and economic ambitions. On Monday, the government approved its first-ever ferry service licence to an international ferry operator, Sea Keepers, authorising the company to operate routes connecting Pakistan with GCC countries, according to a statement. The new ferry service is expected to serve hundreds of thousands annually, particularly pilgrims travelling to Iran and Iraq, alongside workers and tourists bound for GCC states.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
UK opens Chevening scholarships to Pakistani students
Applications are now open for Pakistani students aspiring to study in the United Kingdom under the UK Government's Chevening Scholarships for 2025. The fully funded programme offers one-year master's degrees at leading UK universities and is open to mid-career professionals with at least two years of post-graduation work experience. The Chevening scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, visa costs, and a monthly allowance for living expenses. Scholars will also benefit from academic and professional growth, global networking, and cultural exchange during their stay in the UK. British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said the programme serves as a launchpad for Pakistan's exceptional future leaders. She encouraged those with leadership potential and a drive to make a difference to apply. Applications will remain open from August 5 to October 7, 2025. Eligible candidates must demonstrate real-life examples of leadership, influence, and networking skills. Established in 1983, Chevening has more than 60,000 alumni across 160 countries, including over 2,000 in Pakistan who have gone on to hold leadership roles in various fields. Details and application instructions are available on the official Chevening website.
