LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to take steps on an urgent basis for promoting the meat and poultry industry in the province after China expressed interest in importing fresh meat from Pakistan.

A Chinese delegation called on Punjab Livestock Minister Ibrahim Murad here and expressed its interest in importing meat, particularly beef, from Pakistan.

It told the host that to ensure that the meat consignments were disease-free it wished to set up a vaccine preparation centre for animals and sought provision of land and other facilities to establish the centre. Both sides agreed on cooperation for controlling livestock diseases in Punjab and preparing a proposal for setting up a special dairy economic zone for the purpose.

A meeting was held under caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday to take stock of the steps needed to increase the livestock production and exports.

Mr Naqvi sought a comprehensive plan to bring about improvement in livestock and dairy development across Punjab.

It was decided that the government would take steps on an urgent basis for promotion of the meat and poultry industry in the province and declaring the Bahawalpur division as ‘Meat Division’ of Punjab. It decided to formulate a comprehensive policy on meat export and remove all obstacles in promotion of beef, mutton and poultry industry.

The latest systems for semen protection, farm management and vaccinations, Halal certification and traceability of livestock products were identified as the necessary steps for improving meat exports. particularly to China and Gulf states.

Experts present in the meeting said the poultry industry was also required to be driven towards mechanisation.

Fawad Mukhtar, Naveed Iqbal and Prof Talat Naseer Pasha briefed the meetings on different aspects of the meat industry and put forth their recommendations.

Mr Murad, the chief secretary, chairman planning & development board, secretaries of local government and finance as well as other officials concerned attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2023