THATTA, Sept 25: The collaborative efforts of the European Union and Pakistan for encouragement of six million breeders of small cattle and pet animals in the country would yield positive results in the future. This was observed at a programme held under the aegis of Sindh livestock project at the Makli Gymkhana.

DCO Mohammad Usman Panhwar presided over the session.

Speakers Henier Mehal, co-manager of livestock programme of the European Union for Sindh, Ghulam Sarwar Shaikh, EDO agriculture Naseem Shah, Dr Aslam Parvez Umrani, Dr Abid Thaheem and others were of the view that agriculture was the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and amongst other districts of the country, Thatta district was fertile enough having great potential for agriculture and industry.

Mr Hanier said that provision of facilities, including technical assistance to cattle breeders in Pakistan, would help yield good result.

The objective of the programme, he contended was to help Pakistan in cattle breeding field.

He said Pakistan was having 48 million cows and buffaloes and 77 small pet animals and to protect them against epidemics like small pox, strategies would be evolved to combat the epidemics, preparing grounds for its breeding and grazing.