LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar says the government is striving for the development of the livestock and poultry sectors on scientific lines to increase its contribution to the national economy.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Buffalo Congress-2019 organised by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in collaboration with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department on Monday.

The CM said the government was taking various initiatives for promotion of livestock and poultry with the focus on the development of the rural population.

“We want development of every farmer to enable him to learn and adopt the latest farming techniques and get the maximum produce of milk and meat.”

Opens Buffalo Congress and Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre

Mr Buzdar called for promoting research to enhance milk and meat production, saying that the buffalo, known as black gold, was an important component of livestock in terms of its milk, meat production and draught animal power and it was time to showcase its potential in the international market through the initiatives like the International Buffalo Congress and buffalo fair.

He said the scientists, researchers and academicians attending the buffalo congress would finalise useful recommendations for development of buffalo and livestock sector for food security and poverty alleviation in the country.

The chief minister inaugurated the Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre which would work on promotion of research on buffalo in China and Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak said the government was taking steps to improve livestock in the province and to ensure better quality of meat and dairy products.

“The overall livestock development strategy revolves around fostering private sector-led development along the public sector providing an enabling environment through policy interventions,” he added.

UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said buffalo development would significantly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals of food security, nutrition, alleviation of poverty, economic growth and employment.

He said the Sino-Pak Joint Research Centre for Buffalo would build a scientific platform for cooperative research and long-term development in the field of buffalo science between China and Pakistan.

CM’s adviser on livestock Faisal Hayat Jabwana, Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz, Livestock and Dairy Development secretary Muhammad Ahsan Waheed, International Buffalo Federation Secretary Dr Antonio Borghese and Livestock Department officials attended the congress.

More than 500 delegates from Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the United States are attending the congress.

The congress is spread over one plenary and 14 technical sessions and a farmer-industry forum, 12 business meetings, seven pre-congress workshops, 100 each posters and oral presentations on 10 different aspects of buffalo.

About the national livestock show/buffalo fair at Buffalo Research Institute Pattoki, the UVAS VC said about 1,000 elite animals from all over the country had been registered for different competitions.

A trade exhibition had also been arranged at the institute at Pattoki.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019