HYDERABAD, July 1: The Sindh minister for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, Hassan Ali Chanhio, has said that wool and beef development centres will be set up at different places in Thar at a cost of Rs36 million.

He was speaking at a seminar on the “Beef Production and Rural Development”, held at Haji Usman Ali Chanhio goth, Khipro taluka, Sanghar, on Sunday.

The Sindh minister said the people could derive benefit for themselves as well as earn foreign exchange for the country by increasing the production of wool and beef like the people of Australia, New Zealand and other European countries.

He said the government was making efforts for the development of the agriculture sector and added that long-term projects for the development of livestock had already been commissioned at a cost of Rs222 million. Short-term projects were also being started at a cost of Rs97 million.

He said as the population of Thar was largely dependent on livestock, a project for forage production was also being launched at a cost of Rs46 million.

The Sindh minister also announced the establishment of a veterinary dispensary in Kamal Hingoro Union Council, Khipro taluka.

The director-general of the livestock and fisheries, Dr Baz Mohammad Junejo, said that quality wool could be obtained by protecting animals from various diseases.

The director, animal husbandry, Dr Ghulam Sarwar Shaikh, told the seminar that the total number of animals in the province was 25 million.

The function was jointly organised by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and the Sindh Graduates Association.

The minister distributed certificates among the trainees of community farms and livestock.