Pakistan and China Have Scope to Expand Dairy Cooperation
Lan Gege Dairy began with three cows, four brothers and 500 yuan, according to Wang Wei, the company’s brand general manager. The brothers received the cows after the restructuring of a state-owned dairy plant, pooled their money to acquire basic equipment and began producing and delivering milk.
The family’s traditional yogurt-making skills later developed into a commercial enterprise serving markets across China. Lan Gege now combines dairy farming, research, automated manufacturing and distribution. Its production workshop carries out milk purification, pasteurisation, fermentation, filling and packaging through an integrated automated process.
Wang said the company’s products pass through 98 quality checks. He described the experience as relevant to Pakistan, which has a large livestock base but scope to raise value added through processing, breeding, animal nutrition, cold-chain infrastructure and branding.
Prof Dr Audil Rashid of the University of Gujrat said China-Pakistan dairy cooperation could shift from traditional livestock development towards modern breeding, processing and higher-value products. He referred to a Chinese project involving buffalo embryo development, saying it could improve buffalo breeds and milk yields in both countries.
Pakistan finalised a Material Transfer Agreement with China’s Royal Group in 2026 for the export of high-value buffalo genetic material, including embryos, semen and sexed semen, Rashid said. A specialised Pakistani facility has been established to collect, process and export the material to China.
Rashid said the arrangement could provide a new export channel for Pakistan’s livestock sector. He identified possible cooperation in animal genetics, breeding, feed, processing technology, quality control, cold chains, packaging, branding and access to international markets. He said Lan Gege’s development showed how a small livestock-based enterprise could combine traditional knowledge with technology, specialisation and investment.
