Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday directed the concerned officials to formulate a comprehensive policy for meat export.
Chairing a meeting in Lahore, the chief minister also sought a plan for making improvements in dairy and livestock sectors.
The meeting also decided to take steps on a war footing for the promotion of beef, mutton and poultry industries in the province.
The meeting was briefed that billions of dollars could be earned in foreign exchange through the export of beef, mutton and poultry.
It was decided to approach the federal government in order to remove impediments in the way of export of these items.
The meeting decided to declare Bahawalpur a ‘meat division’, while proposals to declare Dera Ghazi Khan a ‘mutton division’ were also discussed.
It was told that there was a need to adopt latest methods of farm management and vaccination.
It was informed that Punjab had the potential to export livestock and dairy products worth billions of rupees to Saudi Arabia and China.
The meeting was briefed that more production of dairy products could be achieved through cow calf and black grounding.
The meeting stressed the need for the mechanization of poultry industry.
CM Naqvi directed the secretary livestock to meet Chinese counsel general for the purpose.
Fawad Mukhtar, Naveed Iqbal and Professor Talat Naseer Pasha gave briefing to the participants.
Provincial Minister for Livestock Ibrahim Hassan Murad, chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, secretary local government, secretary finance and other concerned officials were in attendance.
Mohsin Naqvi ordered a continued campaign against fake and adulterated agricultural medicines across the province. He directed that commissioners in their relevant divisions should conduct monitoring of ongoing campaigns against fake pesticides. It was agreed during the meeting to formulate an effective strategy to increase production instead of under cultivation area of wheat.
The proposal to grant further subsidy on agricultural machinery so as to increase the production of wheat, cotton and other fields was reviewed. The agricultural experts stressed upon cultivation of fields through a drill machine to increase production. It was decided during the meeting to launch IT based Cotton Crop Management Programme in the province.
