Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that livestock sector has a key role in the strengthening of economy.
He said a major segment of rural population is associated with livestock sector and development of this sector on permanent basis will not only strengthen rural economy but also create job opportunities. He said there is a need for hard work for achieving the targets in livestock sector. He said steps should be taken expeditiously for increasing the share of Punjab in livestock trade at international level.
He expressed these views while addressing a high-level meeting here on Friday which reviewed the measures and recommendations for formulating policy framework for the development of livestock sector in the province. The chief minister also gave approval to risk allowance for field staff of Livestock Department and recruitment against the approved vacancies of technical staff.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharif said there is a lot of potential in livestock sector in the province. He said the Punjab government has taken effective measures for the development of livestock sector, however, there is a need for institutional mechanism and capacity-building of the staff for fully benefiting from existing potential in livestock sector. He said effective measures should be taken for this purpose. The chief minister appreciated the programme started by Livestock Department for protection of livestock from diseases and said that free vaccination of livestock will be continued. He said the Punjab government will provide maximum funds for this purpose.
Sharif lauded the performance of Livestock Department regarding implementation of vaccination programme and appreciated Secretary Livestock Department and his team. He said final recommendations should be evolved with the consultation of the core group comprising livestock experts for evolving future strategy. He said steps should be taken in advance for protecting livestock of Cholistan from diseases. He further directed that final proposals should be submitted for utilising unused land of Livestock Department for public welfare projects.
Sharif said that drug regulatory authority will be set up for ensuring standard of medicines for livestock and departments concerned should present draft of the law as soon as possible. The chief minister issued instructions for setting up a committee headed by the chief secretary and said that it should present final recommendations within two weeks after reviewing the proposals and measures. Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development gave a briefing on the performance of the department and future strategy. Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sher Ali Gorchani, Member National Assembly Afzal Khokhar, Special Assistant Livestock Arshad Jatt, assembly members, chief secretary, secretaries concerned and livestock experts attended the meeting while chairman Planning and Development participated in the meeting through video link.