Arif Alvi for livestock sector development

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday stressed the need for development of livestock sector in the country, saying that it could contribute to economic development, food security and poverty alleviation.

Highlighting the importance of livestock in the economic development of Pakistan, the president said that the livestock sector had great potential to earn foreign exchange and called for increasing the export value by meeting international requirements and ensuring quality control of products.

Alvi’s remarks came during a follow-up meeting on meat exports and processing. The meeting reviewed progress on the decisions taken during the last meeting. Punjab livestock secretary, who was also present on the occasion, gave a presentation on the foot and mouth disease (FMD) in animals and informed the meeting about the efforts made by the provincial government to control the disease.

The meeting proposed various solutions and strategies for controlling FMD in the country. Meat exporters apprised the meeting of the various issues and challenges being faced by them with regard to the export of meat.

The president asked the ministries and departments concerned to facilitate the meat exporters and address their problems, particularly the rationalisation of certification process for halal food and the issuance of quarantine certificates.

He expressed the government’s commitment to addressing the problems of meat exporters and processors by enabling them to enhance production and increase exports. He urged the private sector to play its role in promoting the livestock sector as it had the potential to fetch foreign exchange as well as generate employment opportunities in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2021.

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