Strengthening of the national economy through development of livestock sector is the priority of the Punjab government. To bring about a revolutionary change in the livestock sector, the government has already launched a programme to train 2,000 young boys as Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) and 2,000 women as Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs).
This was stated by the Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh while speaking at the certificate award ceremony arranged by the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) for second batch of 200 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) and Women Livestock Workers Extension Workers (WLEWs) here on Monday.
Punjab Secretary Livestock Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, PLDDB General Manager Dr Naveed Niazi, Director General Livestock Extension Zahid Irfan and others were also present on this occasion.
The Minister said that Pakistan ranks fourth in milk production in the world but despite having such a huge potential our milk production is insufficient to meet the national requirement, he regretted. He alleged that it was the result of inappropriate planning and lack of interest shown by the previous governments.
The Punjab Livestock Workers said that already 572 young boys and women had already completed their training and started work in the field thus not only earning their livelihood under self-employment but also contributing in the national development. He hoped that this project would not only help developing the livestock sector on latest lines but also to achieve US five billion dollars export target.
Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) Chief Executive Officer Major General Muhammad Ali Khan (Retd) speaking on this occasion said that first batch of the young men trained under this project was already giving results through their skills in the rural areas while certificate was being distributed amongst the second batch students on Monday.
He said that second batch students would also be given necessary free of cost Artificial Insemination Kit, motorcycle on easy instalments while women workers would also get necessary support. He said that the Board was also working fast on silage and semen production unit projects. Nestle Chairman Syed Yawar Ali Shah speaking on the occasion said that development of livestock sector could only help eradicating the poverty alleviation.
He hoped that the project would bring about a visible change in the livestock sector. Punjab Secretary Livestock Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh threw light on shortage of Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) in the province and hoped that the PLDDB project would help not only meeting this shortage but its efforts would also result in meat and milk production increase in the province.
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