AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, Federal Minister of Industries and Production and National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, announced government plans to significantly increase livestock exports, highlighting the sector’s substantial contribution of about 62% to the agricultural GDP of Pakistan. During a briefing on the livestock sector, he emphasized its pivotal role in the nation’s agriculture economy and its potential to enhance foreign exchange earnings.
According to Press Information Department, Minister Hussain pointed out that about 8 million families depend on the livestock sector, which is not only vital for Pakistan’s agriculture but also ranks the country as the fourth largest milk producer globally. He detailed the government’s mission to develop agriculture and its determination to expand livestock exports. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a bill has been drafted to regulate veterinary sciences and animal welfare, soon to be submitted for cabinet approval.
The minister elaborated on various initiatives underway to safeguard livestock from diseases, including enhancing disease surveillance systems and developing a track and trace system to monitor animal movements. These measures are part of broader efforts to create a real-time database of animal diseases across the country, aiming to bolster the health and productivity of the livestock sector.
The briefing, which also included insights from Commissioner Livestock Dr. Akram and Federal Secretary Food Security Capt (r) Muhammad Asif, highlighted the current challenges and the functioning of the department, emphasizing a proactive approach towards transforming Pakistan’s livestock sector into a more lucrative and well-regulated part of the national economy.