Punjab govt to make livestock sector profitable

Minister for focusing on animal health, nutrition, improved farmhouses

LAHORE: The provincial government is working to provide adulteration-free milk to consumers and make the sector viable and profitable for livestock farmers, said Punjab Minister for Livestock Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak.

Talking to the media on the sidelines of a seminar on Monday, the minister said the livestock sector could not make progress without ensuring prosperity of the farmers. He stressed the need for paying attention to animal health, nutrition and improved farmhouses to bring a white revolution in the province.

The minister lamented that despite being among the largest milk producers, Pakistan was inefficient in promoting the sector. He revealed that the Cholistan University of Veterinary Sciences would start functioning by June next year and expressed hope that the university would support the livestock industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Economics, Planning and Development Salman Shah said the livestock sector was 11% of gross domestic product (GDP) and realising its importance the government had initiated various schemes.

He said the prime minister had also emphasised the need for focusing on the sector as it had the potential to generate economic activities and employment.

Pakistan Dairy Association Chairman Sulaiman Monnoo said currently Pakistan was amongst the five largest dairy producing countries in the world, yet unfortunately 95% of the milk was sold as loose milk and most of which was unhygienic or adulterated and did not provide the masses with the required nutrition. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2019.

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