Revival of Asia’s largest dairy farm on the cards

Work has begun to restore the 100-year-old and Asia's largest dairy farm in Jhika Gali in Murree which remains shut since 1971.

The revival of the locked dairy farm will lead to a marked increase in milk and meat production in the twin cities of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Punjab.

The largest dairy farm used to be the major milk and meat production center until 1971 as hundreds of cows were reared there.

Before partition, British Army soldiers used to run the now abandoned dairy farm. Rawalpindi and the local population were supplied with milk along with fresh lassi, cheese and butter at very cheap prices twice a day from this dairy farm.

The dairy farm on 300-kanal in a desolate place was built by the British government. The dairy farm presents a deserted look today but the building and its sheds are still intact.

Sources said that after giving Murree the district status, work has been started to revive Asia's largest dairy farm, which has been closed for the last 50 years.

It was closed in 1971-72 during former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's rule. At the beginning of 1983, General Zia-ul-Haq during a visit to Jhika Gali, directed the restore the dairy farm.

As work began to start to revive it, elections were announced and as a result, Muhammad Khan Junejo became the prime minister and work on the project was stopped.

During the PML-N tenure, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi issued instructions for the restoration of the dairy farm but it fell victim to political instability.

According to sources, the Rural Area Development Organization (RADO) has started work to rehabilitate the defunct dairy farm. The RADO delegation met with Divisional Director Livestock Rawalpindi Dr Muhammad Sarfaraz Chatha and discussed expediting the rehabilitation work.

The livestock director said that after the revival of the dairy farm, milk supply will increase in Punjab and prices of butter and cheese will also decrease.

MNA from Murree Sadaqat Ali Abbasi said that all relevant institutions will work together for the revival of the project. “It has been decided to restore it and all stakeholders will be taken into confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2022.