The Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister for Livestock & Fisheries, Faqir Muhammad Jadam Mangrio, has said that an integrated strategy has been developed to give industry status to livestock and animal husbandry by implementing Mega Development Projects under the public private partnership not only to create maximum job opportunities but also to raise the agro-animal-based exports of the country.
This he said while addressing a ceremony organised by Directorate of Animal Husbandry Sindh to hand over the keys of motorcycles to the Field Staff working in European funded project for strengthening of livestock services in Pakistan at local hotel on Sunday evening.
He said that keeping in view the importance of the agriculture and livestock sector in national economy, the Sindh Chief Minister was determined to bring 'white revolution' by developing livestock and giving it industry status and has earmarked huge amount in the current financial budget 2006-07.
He said that under this strategy the Provincial Government has planned to establish 'Dairy Villages' and 'Export Processing Zone' for meat animal with public-private participation at Ghaghar Phattak, Karachi at an estimated cost of Rs 399 million on a area spread over 800 acres.
He said that this mega project would be implemented from July 2006 and would follow other such projects on Super Highway and National Highway to facilitate the animal breedeRs He said that segregation of the areas into woolen, meat and milk zones and formation of "livestock development forum" comprised on all stakeholders was also included in this strategy. He said that this strategy would also include various projects for transfer of technology and training to officers and breeders with provision of under ADP 2006-07 which would also be launched in the current financial year.
He said that in addition to establishment of 'Dairy Villages' and 'Export Processing Zone', five more mega development projects, including establishment of cattle colonies one each on 200 acres of land at 27 cities with district and private participation phase-I at the estimated cost of Rs 395 million, development of meat and milk productions in Sindh at a cost of Rs275 million, establishment of research and breeding farm of Pateri Goat Breed at a cost of Rs95 million, Bari/Teddy Goat breeding and research farm for meat development at a cost of Rs95 million, a scheme of improvement of existing livestock farms in Sindh at estimated cost of Rs 95 million would also be implemented during the current ADP 2006-2007 to bring considerable development in this sector.
He said that five other on-going projects at total cost of Rs 539.446 million were already under implementation by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry Sindh since ADP 2005-06 to enhance the capacity building of department, Dairy farmers and breeders. He said that these projects include a pilot project to establish five model districts ie.
Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Naushero Feroz and Dadu at the estimated cost of Rs 204.719 million, a project of Human Resources Development through provision of training to farmers and higher education to technical officers at the cost of Rs173.348 million, establishment of Kooka Sheep farm at Sukkur at the cost of Rs52.167 million, establishment of research and extension centre at Dhoro Naro, District Umer Kot at its cost of Rs 69.375 million and control of foot and mouth diseases in five districts including Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Larkana and Jacobabad at the cost of Rs 39.837 million. He said that besides six other different schemes had also taken into hand during last 2 to 3 years and same were near to complete.
He said that due to these efforts, since 2000 no case of rinder pest disease had been reported in animals in the country. As such, Pakistan maaay be declared a rinder pest-free diseases free country during 2006-07 and this will increase animal-based exports in the world. He said that since water shortage has been occurred in the country, the livestock has remained the only source of income for the people of rural areas and this white revolution would bring economic prosperity among the people of the province.
Talking about the scheme under which motorcycles were being distributed among the field staff, Faqir Muhammad said that this scheme of strengthening of livestock services in Pakistan was launched jointly by government of Pakistan and European Union at an estimated cost of 22 million euros in 2003-04.
He said that 80 percent of this amount has been provided by the European Union while rest amount of 20 percent being invested by government of Pakistan.
He said that the government of Sindh under its share of 5.75 million euro has launched this project to have provision of lacking facilities at its existing projects with human resource development, information & communication, studies and surveys, regional co-operation and co-ordination for development of animal husbandry in the province. He said that under this scheme five hundred motor cycles have been provided to the field staff at concessional rates on easy instalments to enable them for their efficient deliveries.
He also directed Sindh Secretary Livestock & Fisheries to proceed with the cases of promotion of the department without further delay not only to provide justice to them but also create more posts for the successors and new comers subsequently. He said that efforts have been made to upgrade the 811 posts of FIELD STAFF from BPS-6 to BPS-11 as incentive to them and to ensure desired output from their services and added that summary in this regard has been forwarded to the competent authority.
Later on, Faqir Muhammad handed over keys of motorcycles to the field staff members.
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