Balochistan looks to tap Halal market potential

Livestock expo will aim to boost meat productivity

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Wednesday reiterated that the government is committed to uplift livestock and agriculture sector in the province.

Talking to a European Union Cooperation delegation led by Milko Van Gool in Quetta, Jam Kamal said that the provincial government was taking concrete steps to promote the agriculture sector in the country, reported Radio Pakistan.

He said that the provincial government will hold its first-ever livestock expo in Quetta next month. The three-day livestock Expo will aim at increasing meat productivity to boost the economy of the province.

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Earlier, Chief Minister Jam Kamal also chaired a meeting to review progress on the expo. He said that $80 billion Halal meat industry exists at the international level and Balochistan can boost the overall economy by exporting organic meat.

“The expo would be helpful in gaining foreign and local investors’ attention in the province’s livestock sector,” the chief minister added.

He directed the authorities to make all the necessary arrangements and promote the expo through print and electronic media.

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani also criticised the previous governments, saying that no efforts were made in the past to develop this sector further. He said livestock is the backbone of the province’s economy.

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“Present government is committed to developing and improving the structure of livestock and dairy,” Shahwani said in a statement.

Balochistan has the capacity to expand its livestock sector and all stakeholders must unite at a single platform to ensure implementation of the collective measures. The sector will contribute to the prosperity of the province,” he said.

Shahwani also briefed that training workshops are being conducted on a divisional level by the Agriculture Academy of Balochistan, where officers of agriculture engineering, agriculture research, agriculture farms and water management will participate. The workshops had begun in Noshki (Rakhshan Division) from September 30.

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“Government of Balochistan is planning to develop the agriculture sector in accordance with the modern techniques to meet the needs of the province. People will soon witness a massive improvement in the sector after the execution of the plans,” Shahwani added.

He assured that the people of the province will avail benefits under the ongoing Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2019.