ISLAMABAD: An official delegation from Pakistan will participate in the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) — the largest annual poultry, meat and feed industry event — which opens in Atlanta on January 28.

This will be Pakistan’s third official delegation to the United States dealing with the agriculture sector and will include provincial ministers, government officials and businessmen.

Speaking at a news briefing, US Agriculture Counselor David Williams highlighted that 600 American cattle have been exported to Pakistan over the past twelve months. The cattle, which arrived in Sialkot first, was sent to Pattoki Institute of Modern Dairy Practices while some of it would be sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

This is the first time the famous Holstein Friesian cows have been sent to Pakistan for hosting purposes.

Additional Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Jamil Ahmed said the delegation will explore America’s experience in value addition, feed and fodder in the poultry sector.

Mr Jamil Ahmed pointed out that despite the fact that agriculture accounts for more than 20 per cent of GDP and two-fifths of employment in Pakistan it has not been fully developed.

Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali, a member of Plant Sciences Division of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, said the delegation will negotiate collaboration with laboratories in order to develop industry for poultry medicines.

Pakistan spends a lot of amount on the import of such medicines, but has capacity to produce these medicines locally, he said.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2017