Replying to a question raised by PML-N’s Shireen Arshad Khan in the National Assembly, he said that the exported animals included 48,680 cattle, 50,000 buffaloes, 54,716 sheep and goats and 147 camels.
In order to facilitate and encourage livestock exports, the government has decided that no permit was required from the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development for commercial export of live animals for meat purposes.
“The ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce, has estimated 253,000 heads of exportable live animals for meat purpose through an open policy quota,” he added.
Presently, the country has around 110.05 billion animals and meat production has increased by 15 per cent. “We are self-reliant in meat,” Shah said.
In order to improve supply of meat and animals in the country, the government has initiated a project called the Livestock Development for Meat Production at a cost of Rs1.52 billion. Under the project, 13,177 feedlot fattening farms have been established, having 163,977 cows and 217,701 goats. In this programme, 728 farmers have been trained in feedlot fattening operations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2011.
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