The National Assembly was informed on Friday that a new "livestock development policy" is likely to be introduced in the country soon. In his written reply, federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan said the new policy is ready for presentation to the Prime Minister.
It addresses enforcement of legal framework, development strategies and action plan for farmers using livestock as supplementary source of income, small and medium enterprises and large businesses.
A company led by the private sector "Livestock and Dairy Development Board" has been established to increase the pace of development in livestock sector. A number of development projects, he added, are under implementation and in the pipeline to improve infrastructure in the livestock sector.
The national project titled "Strengthening of Livestock Services Project-Rinderpest Eradication Programme" worth Rs 1.994 billion is under implementation while "Livestock Production and Development for Meat Production worth Rs 2 billion is in the pipeline.
The lower house was further informed that a project "Establishment of Seed Testing Laboratories and Rehabilitation of Existing Laboratories" has been approved by the Central Development Working Party at a cost of Rs 81.284 million for increasing the agricultural output in the country.
Eleven new seed testing laboratories are being set up in various ecological zones of the country at different locations including Gujranwala, Bhakkar, D.G. Khan, Bahawalnagar, T.T. Singh, Vehari, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Abbottabad and Usta Muhammad.