Great expectations from Livestock Board

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif lauded the establishment of Livestock and Dairy Development Board and Lahore Meat Company and called it an innovative step towards the development of livestock sector in the province.
CM was addressing the first meeting of Livestock and Dairy Development Board at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Sunday. Chairman Planning & Development, vice chairman Punjab Investment Board and personnel from different departments including the local government, Finance, Livestock, and Industries, and experts from private sector were present on the occasion.
CM said livestock sector’s development could help eliminate unemployment and earn foreign exchange. He said the nature had blessed Pakistan with resources and no attention was ever paid during the last sixty three years for their development and time had come to develop self reliance for strengthening of economy.
He explained that livestock sectors were like gold mines for the country and there was a need for development. He said Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme to uplift the sector and set up a board comprising of experts. He said the board would take measures for achieving the target of livestock exports of five billon dollars in the next eight to ten years.
He said meat was being exported to Malaysia for first time in the history of Pakistan which was a big achievement. He said modern technology could help breed better animals and increase milk processing ratio.
He directed the board to form a committee comprising of government officers and experts from private sector to review the performance of farms under the Livestock Department.
The committee will submit its report within seven days. He said the farm performance was poor and there was a need for improvement. He directed public-private partnership should be encouraged and it was the government’s responsibility to ensure proper utilization of public money.
Livestock and Dairy Development Board CEO Maj Gen (r) Muhammad Ali highlighted the salient features of the livestock development plan.
He informed that Pakistan is the third largest milk producer in the world and Punjab government has evolved a plan to increase livestock exports to five billion dollars under a phased and concerted programme and advisory services.