Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Dairy Develop-ment Mir Israrullah Zehri has assured that agriculture and livestock sectors will be promoted on priority basis in Balochistan province to capitalise the natural potential of the province. The minister said this during a meeting with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bhotani who called on him here on Tuesday.
Zehri said that he had already directed Soil Survey of Pakistan (SSP) to share its valuable data with the provincial agriculture extension department of Balochistan so that the land suitability was exploited to its maximum potential. Balochistan has huge potential for livestock and dairy development and the federal government was trying to strengthen this sector in the province so that majority of the poor farmers could attain maximum benefit, he added.
The minister said that the depleting water resources were also a big challenge and modern irrigation practices would greatly help to overcome the issue. Aslam Bhotani apprised the minister of the issues regarding the agriculture sector of the province, especially Vinder Palm Oil Project. Zehri assured the Speaker that issues of Vinder Palm Oil Project will be taken on priority basis. He was of the view that agriculture and livestock were the only means of livelihood for the majority of people in Balochistan and the ministry would do its maximum to launch productive and sustainable agricultural programmes in the province.
"I will take up the issue regarding release of funds to Vinder Palm Oil Project with the concerned quarters. Non-payment of salaries to the project employees is really a serious issue and I will direct the related authority to do the needful in this regard," the minister assured.
"Devolution of ministry of livestock is in the greater national interest. Establishment of a National Animals Conservation Farm and Radio Livestock would prove to be beneficial for livestock and dairy development sector," the minister said after taking a briefing by secretary livestock Khwaja Sadiq Akbar.