LAHORE: Punjab Livestock & Dairy Development Department (PL&DD) has planned to host the International Buffalo Congress (IBC) and National Livestock Show this February with an objective to highlight the speciality and worth of cattle as well as other animals of the region.
Besides Pakistani experts, international participants from India, Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Romania, Nepal and the United States would also be presenting their research papers during the conference.
The IBC 2019 would be the first international venture of the PL&DD ever since its last Asian Buffalo Congress in 2009.
A planning meeting for the conference on Friday was chaired by Punjab Minister for PL&DD Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak, who encouraged the officials to play their respective roles with zeal to revive the lost glory of livestock.
PL&DD Secretary Muhammad Ahsan Waheed, Meritorious Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) Director General Kamran Lashari, former federal minister for privatization and WWF Pakistan President Altaf M Saleem and representatives from PL&DD, Buffalo Research Institute (BRI) and Buffalo Breeder Association were present during the meeting.
They pitched different ideas to make the event better and successful.
“An international organisation holds this conference in different parts of the world after every four years. This time, it is coming to Pakistan and we have joined hands with them. The buffalo and cattle show was held at a small scale in March 2018, but this year we plan to merge it with the conference,” the minister told Pakistan Today.
He said almost 200 papers would be presented by international and national experts during the congress and it will be an experience sharing event for all stakeholders.
“Our buffalos are among the best in the world and we want to highlight it with the help of this conference. We will benefit through international research and improve the industry by also passing on the knowledge to farmers. We aim to make IBC a result-oriented conference for the economy as well as for the farming community.”
“The WCLA has also collaborated with us to show international delegations the heritage, culture and soft side of the country. WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari has extended us his all-out support for the purpose,” the minister added.
