Practical steps being taken for uplift of livestock sector: minister

LAHORE : Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the livestock sector is a top priority of the government, and practical steps are being taken for its development.

He expressed these views during his visit to the sub-campus of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the Buffalo Research Institute in Pattoki on Saturday. Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development, Masood Anwar, and Director General (Production), Asif Rafiq, accompanied him.

The Chief Research Officer of the Buffalo Research Institute, Dr Intizar Ahmed Khan gave a detailed briefing to the provincial minister about the administrative affairs of the institute and the breeding, genetics, and rearing programmes for calves and buffaloes.

The provincial minister inspected various departments of the institute, including the calves rearing centre, dairy section, and research laboratories.

The provincial minister, on this occasion, said that institutions like the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences are providing such education and training to our youth that they can play their role in the livestock sector in their practical life.

He said under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the government's focus is on small farmers with land holdings ranging from one to twelve and a half acres, for whom various schemes are being launched in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

He said according to the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Livestock Department is paying full attention to increasing milk and meat production and implementing body fattening programmes for livestock.

The provincial minister said that for the first time in Punjab, a scheme called the Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card has been introduced for small farmers, benefiting 80,000 farmers over two years. Four lakh animals will be prepared for export through feed and fattening.

Kirmani said that the Nili-Ravi breed is the pride of Punjab. The Livestock Department is striving to improve the Nili-Ravi breed of buffaloes in Punjab. He further said that we are introducing milk and meat breeds in Punjab. Our aim is to increase meat production to meet export targets.