CM inaugurates Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre

Says government is promoting livestock sector on scientific lines

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is striving for the development of the livestock sector on scientific and modern lines.

He was speaking after inaugurating the International Buffalo Congress-2019 which was organised on Monday by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore. The event was held in collaboration with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab.

The chief minister said the Punjab government has taken various initiatives for the promotion of livestock and poultry with a focus on the development of the commonly neglected rural population. The government wants every individual farmer to develop, learn and adopt the latest farming techniques and achieve the maximum production of milk and meat. He said this will consequently contribute to the development of the national economy.

Buzdar called for promoting the research culture to enhance milk and meat yield. He said that the buffalo, known as black gold, is an important component of livestock in terms of its milk and meat production. It is the right time to showcase its potential in the international market through the International Buffalo Congress and buffalo fair.

He hoped that scientists, researchers, and academicians attending the buffalo congress from across the world will finalise useful recommendations for the development of the buffalo and livestock sector. Buzdar was confident that the initiative would contribute to food security and poverty reduction.

The chief minister also inaugurated the Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre, which will work on the promotion of research on the buffalo in China and Pakistan.

Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Sardar Hasnain Bahadar Daresha said that the government has taken effective steps to improve livestock in the province and to ensure a better quality of meat and dairy products. "The overall livestock development strategy revolves around fostering private sector-led development with the public sector, providing an enabling environment through policy interventions."

UVAS Vice Chancellor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha spoke about the importance of the buffalo and said its development will significantly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals of food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, economic growth, and employment. He said that despite the buffalo's importance, institutional efforts, resource allocation, research and development are minimal. As a consequence, its potential contribution has not been fully realised.

More than 500 delegates from Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the United States of America are attending the congress.

The minister said the congress is spread over one plenary and 14 technical sessions and a farmer-industry forum. Twelve business meetings, seven pre-congress workshops, 100 each poster and oral presentations on 10 different aspects of buffalo will be held during the congress.

About the national livestock show, buffalo fair at Buffalo Research Institute Pattoki, Dr Pasha said that about 1,000 of the best animals from all over the country have been registered for different competitions. A trade exhibition has also been organised at BRI, Pattoki.

Talking about the Sino-Pak Joint Research Centre for Buffalo, Dr Pasha said that this center will build a scientific platform for cooperative research and long-term development in the field of buffalo science.