Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated on Sunday the state-of-the-art slaughter house completed at a cost of Rs 01 billion in collaboration with Punjab and Iran at Shahpur Kanjran.
Officials of Iranian Consulate, members of Turk delegation, elected representatives, Secretaries of Livestock and Health and a large number of citizens participated in the inaugural function of the slaughter house which was completed in a record period of 10 months.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Lahore Meat Processing Complex, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the Lahorites and people of Punjab on the completion of most modern slaughter house on the occasion of birthday of founder of Pakistan. He said that this project is an important step with regard to agriculture and economic aspect and increasing the exports of Pakistan. He said that due to completion of this important project, not only best meat according to hygienic principles will be available to the citizens but also huge foreign exchange will be earned through export of meat from Punjab to Iran and other countries. He said that the project of modern slaughter house reflects the historic, cultural and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran. He said that this joint venture is a milestone between the two countries and hoped that such more joint ventures would be started in the coming days.
He said that such joint ventures will guarantee the economic and trade development in the region. He said that Pakistan is rich in natural resources and vast opportunities of development of livestock sector are also available. He said that Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme of development of this sector and for the first time in the history of the country, meat has been exported from Punjab. The Chief Minister said that Muslim countries import meat of billions of dollars from various countries in which the share of Pakistan is negligible. He said that despite common borders, brother Islamic country Iran imports meat of 800 million dollars from other countries. He said that Pakistan has the capacity of exporting best Hilal meat not only to Iran but also to other countries by improving the livestock sector. He said that Punjab government will make an agreement of exporting meat of 160 million dollars to Iran. He urged that Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and other Muslim countries should launch similar joint ventures for the progress and prosperity of the people.
Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that on the eve of birthday of Quaid-e-Azam, we will have to make this pledge that we will make honesty, trust and hardworking our motto for transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideas of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and these are also the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. He said that the nations never progress through charity of Aghyaar. He said that we relied upon charity of Aghyaar instead of developing our indigenous resources during the last 64 years. He said time has come that indigenous resources should be developed by renouncing the foreign aid for achieving the status of dignified nation and simplicity should be adopted. He said that the destiny of the country can be changed through promotion of modern knowledge, science and technology and untiring efforts. He said that although it is a difficult task yet is not impossible. He said that the living nations march forward only through hard work and we have also to march towards the same direction speedily. He said that the poet of the East has also given us the lesson of self-respect and the lost image of Pakistan can be restored by acting upon his thoughts. He said that the project of slaughter house will be free from politics and it will be run through management having best professional abilities. He said that resources are trust of the nation and these will not be let wasted at any cost. He said that we are thankful to Iran for extending co-operation in this joint venture and the efforts of former Secretary Livestock Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Livestock Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, Chief Executive Officer Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company Dr Hamid Jalil and his entire team are commendable. Chief Minister also announced one month's salary as bonus to the staff of slaughter house on completion of most modern slaughter house in a record period. Chief Minister also gave away souvenirs to those showing best performance.
Addressing the function, Project Manager Hassan Bina Razavi said that the project of modern slaughter house reflects the ties, friendship and mutual co-operation of Iran and Pakistan spreading over centuries and this project is the result of joint efforts of Punjab and Iran.