Livestock sector: Punjab may launch a plan to revive industry

Hopes to generate Rs400b activity in the next ten years.

KOT MOMIN:

The Punjab government hopes to generate activity worth Rs400 billion in the next ten years in the livestock sector and hopes to launch a plan to revive local cattle breeds, as well as introduce high-yielding crossbred animals.

The Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB), under new management has embarked on a project for maximum utilisation of livestock resources with specific focus on the artificial insemination.

“We are striving to bring change at most critical level of breed improvement,” said PLDDB Chief Executive Officer Maj Gen (retd) Muhammad Ali Khan, while talking to reporters.

Despite being the third-largest milk producing country and ranked 19th in the world among mead producers Pakistan is not even fulfilling its own requirements for milk and meat, he said. Khan added that this was primarily due to improper exploitation of the genetic potential.

The government had also committed to give Rs500 million per annum for the next five years to fully exploit the potential of this vital sector.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.