October 07, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Livestock population has been steadily increasing in the country, thereby multiplying its share in national economy as against last couple of years, sources in the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) said here on Saturday.

An official in the ministry said share of livestock in the GDP stands at 14.4 per cent, adding the sector contributes 49.6 per cent share in agri-GDP which, he said, was growing at the rate of 4.3 per cent annually.

It provides livelihood and jobs to more than eight million families, including people living in far-flung areas of the country, he said, adding its also provides raw material for dairy industry of the country.

He informed that livestock population, including cattle, buffaloes, goats and camel, increased manifold which reflects broad vision and vibrant policies of the government to boost livestock sector.

He said that the population of cattle increased by 44.7 per cent, buffalo by 34.8 per cent, sheep and goat by 12.5, 30.6, respectively, while camel increased by 13.0 per cent.

Punjab was at top position to increase animal population, where the cattle increased by 49 per cent, buffalos 65 per cent, sheep 24 per cent, goat and camel 37 to 22 per cent, he added.

Prices of all dairy items, including milk, cream butter and other commodities, are low as compared to the rest of the world, he said.

Official informed that Pakistan was the fourth largest milk producing country of the world and it fulfilled its domestic consumption with fresh milk, adding dry milk powder was being imported only to prepare food formula and baby food for kids.

It is expected that livestock productivity and population will further increase as government was providing financial and technical assistance to the farmers of remote areas of the country, he added.—APP