A Year of Transformation: Livestock & Dairy Development Department Achieves Milestones

**- Livestock & Dairy Sector Thrives Under CM Punjab’s Leadership

• Amir Rauf Khawaja**

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, during the short period of one year ,there are positive signs appearing of economic growth and reduction in inflation for the people of Punjab. Maryam Nawaz Sharif has made the people proud with her hard work and true dedication. Practical progress is being made on reforming institutions and systems. The livestock sector in Punjab is the backbone of the country’s rural economy and an important driver of economic development. Currently, more than 8 million rural households are engaged in livestock production and this sector contributes 35-40 percent of their household income. According to the Economic Survey 2023-24, the livestock sector has maintained its position as a core component of agricultural development. Last year, it contributed 60.84 percent to agricultural value added. This sector recorded a strong growth rate of 3.9 percent. While its share in total national exports is 1.6 percent. Which shows its growing role in international trade.Under the directions of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab government has allocated a huge amount of Rs 20 billion for the livestock sector in the budget 2024-25 in view of further development and promotion of the livestock sector and increasing food needs. Several initiatives have been launched from these development funds.

Livestock Card

The launch of the Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card at a cost of more than Rs 4 billion is a very important project aimed at providing financial assistance to small and medium farmers so that they can meet their needs for animal feed and supplements. In addition, to promote financial inclusion and access to interest-free credit for farmers in rural areas so that the country’s economy can be boosted by increasing the meat production capacity of animals. Under this project, livestock cards are being issued to 40 to 80 thousand farmers through the Bank of Punjab during 2 years. Which is providing them with an interest-free loan facility of Rs. 135000 to Rs. 270000. To obtain Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card, owning at least 5 to 10 male calves/young stock(buffalo, cow), verification of credit history through NADRA and ECIB are part of the eligibility criteria. The selection of eligible applicants is being done on a “first come, first served basis”. During this program, 4 lakh animals are being registered in the feedlot fattening program. Which will not only make affordable and quality protein available locally. But it will also create more export opportunities in the international Halal Meat Market.

Livestock Asset Transfer to Rural Women in South Punjab

Livestock assets are being transferred to rural women in South Punjab for the economic development of women and provision of decent employment. Under this project, free livestock cow/buffalo (heifers) are being provided to 11,000 poor rural, divorced/widowed women not above 55 years of age in 12 districts of South Punjab over the next two years at a cost of Rs. 2 billion. This project will not only increase the monthly income of these helpless women but also provide them with milk for their food needs and domestic consumption, and more importantly, it will create a sense of self-reliance and empowerment among these women. A few days ago, on February 5, Provincial Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani formally inaugurated the digital balloting of the livestock assets distribution program among widows and divorced women of South Punjab, along with the distributionof animals among women also began from the same day. In the first year, 5500 animals are being distributed among widows and divorced women. Punjab Bank will also open an account for the women whose names emerged successful from the balloting and also provide 2 months feeding amount for raising these animals, while the Livestock Department will arrange the vaccination and insemination for all the animals.

Genetic improvement of Non-Descript Cattle through Provision of Exotic semen

Genetic improvement of animals is an important pillar of the livestock sector. For the development and promotion of this sector, a project for the genetic improvement of non-descript cows through the supply of foreign semen has been launched at a cost of Rs. 1 billion. The aim of this project is to increase the genetic improvement of non-descript cows through the supply of 1.2 million foreign (Friesian, Brahman, Angus, Nellore, Red Sindhi and Gir breed) through semen doses. In addition, 150 local and foreign cows will be implanted through IV technology for research and study. Furthermore, candidate bulls will be produced with the help of field drills at the Livestock Production Research Institute, Bahadur Nagar, Okara.

Breed Improvement of Small Ruminants through Provision of Rams and Bucks

Total cost of the project is Rs.500 million. Under this project, goat/umbrella farmers in 4 districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Bhakkar and Khushab in Sargodha division will not only be provided extension services but also vaccination facilities will be made available to reduce the mortality rate of these animals.

Improving the capacity of livestock farmers in animal breeding, feeding, slaughtering and disease control is also part of the main objectives of this project.Free of cost distribution of 5050 true to breed Rams & Bucks will be distributed amongst small ruminant under the project in the next 2 years. The monitoring and verification of this project will be done by the Urban Unit.

Strengthening of SPUs Karaniwala & Qadirabad for increased coverage of breedable population in Punjab

To improve the genetic potential and infrastructure of the animals, the project of improvement of Semen Production Units Karaniwala and Qadirabad at a cost of Rs. 239 million is also on the list. The main objective of this project is to improve the semen production and storage facilities of both the semen production units as well as purchase and installation of machines for automatic semen filling and sealing.

With the help of this project, considerable help will be given to increase the breeding coverage through artificial insemination. Which will make it possible to increase the local production of milk and …meat. Strengthening of livestock services by provision of ultrasonography at Tehsil headquarters hospitals across Punjab To improve the quality and scope of services in tehsil hospitals across Punjab,133 ultrasound machines are also being provided at a cost of Rs. 150 million. Which will not only help in improving the diagnostic facilities in livestock but will also increase the capacity of the technical staff.

Establishment/Revamping of Civil

Veterinary Dispensaries across Punjab

Under the Livestock Department, 8 new Civil Veterinary Dispensaries are being constructed and renovated across the province in the next 2 years to improve the infrastructure with the amount of Rs.170.000 million. To further improve the door-to-door treatment facilities, 3500 motorcycles are being provided to the para-veterinary staff this year.

These steps taken by the Punjab government for the livestock sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif will not only provide facilities at the doorstep of the farmers and improve milk and meat production, but due to these far-reaching measures, along with the prosperity of the farmer, the country’s economy will also move on the path of development.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025