AVN Report
LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs 20 billion for the development of the livestock sector in the current fiscal year, with a focus on key initiatives such as the Livestock Farmer’s Card, the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme, and the distribution of livestock assets to rural widows and divorced women.
Punjab Minister for Livestock and Agriculture, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, made this announcement at a ceremony organised by Brooks, an NGO, in connection with World Animal Protection Day. The event was also attended by Livestock Secretary Saqib Ali Ateel and Brooks CEO Javed Gondal.
Mr Kirmani lauded organisations like Brooks for their efforts in the livestock sector, underscoring the sector’s vital role in ensuring economic stability and generating employment across the province. He reaffirmed the livestock department’s commitment to supporting animal welfare initiatives and promoting sustainable livestock practices.
The minister said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s government made the largest allocation for the livestock sector in Punjab’s history for various initiatives aimed at improving the sector, including disease control, livestock tagging, vaccinations, and artificial insemination in designated Foot and Mouth Disease Control Compartments and Zones.
These efforts are designed to increase the production of disease-free, high-quality meat and milk for both local consumption and export markets.
The livestock secretary said more than 8 million families in Pakistan are directly linked to the livestock sector, emphasizing the department’s efforts to enhance animal health and welfare and ensuring availability of high-quality cattle feed.
He also mentioned that five disease control compartments will be established in the first year, with a particular focus on providing protein-rich cattle feed to boost milk and meat production.
He said the Punjab government’s proactive measures reflect the CM’s vision to position the livestock sector as a key driver of the province’s economic and social development.
