The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the private sector to shift its focus towards the livestock sector because of its immense potential to work as a driving force for the economy. Lahore Chamber President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad in a statement said livestock accounted for around 11.4 percent for the gross domestic product and its value was higher than all the agricultural products including major, minor and fruits and vegetables.
"A little focus towards this important sector and public-private partnership could yield miraculous results," he said. He went on, "The appetite for the Pakistani meat is strong in both domestic and export markets. The exports of live animals should be marginalized and only meat be exported to get maximum benefits. Fifteen percent of milk is wasted in transportation requiring instant remedies. More chillers on farmlands need to be established, these can operate through join ownership of farmers. The chillers should be operated on no-profit-no-loss basis through interest free loan from the state, returnable in five years time.
"To root out rural poverty it is recommended to provide five buffaloes, 10 goats and three acres to widows in each village. Once these are in place poverty reduction will be ensured and at the same time can provide milk, meat and biomass for the power projects in villages."