The Punjab government will set up livestock zones near big cities to meet milk and meat needs in the province. "An atmosphere conducive to develop the livestock sector in an organised manner will be provided in these zones," said Caretaker Chief Minister Ijaz Nisar chairing a Livestock and Dairy Development meeting on here Saturday.
He said the government had also decided to set up a Punjab meat development company to increase the meat production by providing soft-term loans to livestock farmers. It would also create more jobs for the youth in rural areas, he added.
He said the livestock sector was being developed through the private-public partnership to improve the national economy and reduce poverty and that his government was also considering saving animals from diseases.
Under a comprehensive programme, the Punjab government is spending Rs 116 million on vaccinating animals and setting up laboratories for diagnosis of diseases. It is also setting up dispensaries in union councils throughout the province under the support services programme. The government is also planning to aet up milk processing plants and milk collection centres in Layyah, Sialkot, Cholistan and other areas.
"There is a plan to set up 480 model dairy farms in the province at a cost of Rs 5 billion for better production and milk marketing. Community dairy farms will also be set up with the co-operation of the private sector," he added. Punjab Minister for Livestock Mumtaz Ahmad Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary Salman Siddique and Finance and Livestock Secretaries Sohail Ahmad, Babar Yaqub and Fateh Muhammad also attended the meeting.