Provincial Minister of Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani chaired a high-level meeting in Livestock Department Lahore, in which Chief Minister Punjab Livestock Card and the progress and timelines of the projects of distribution of animals to widows and divorced women of South Punjab were reviewed. Secretary Livestock Saqib Ali Atteel and President Punjab Bank Zafar Masood also attended the meeting.
Provincial Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani while addressing the meeting said that Chief Minister Punjab is taking all possible steps for the development of livestock sector, which will usher a new era of prosperity for livestock farmers.
On this occasion, the provincial minister maintained that there is need to ensure the timelines of livestock card and animal distribution projects among women. He endorsed that in this regard, there is need to speed up the advertising campaign through print, electronic and social media.
The Provincial Livestock Minister further added that 40 to 80 thousand farmers will be provided 4.5 billion rupees ,for the first time in history through livestock cards interest-free loan scheme. The limit of credit amount will be between 1 lakh 35 thousand to 2 lakh 70 thousand rupees. The condition of 5 to 10 animals is mandatory. Farmers will not get this money in the form of cash, but they will be able to buy Vanda, Silage and Mineral mixture with that amount.The aim of Livestock Card is to prepare the animals through Fattening for increasing the production of meet and then use it for the exports purpose. Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani highlighted that the role of women in the development of the livestock sector is of great importance.Chief Minister Punjab has initiated a scheme of providing 11,000 heifers among the widows and divorced women of South Punjab so they could be able to stand on their feets.That scheme is for the 12 districts of South Punjab. The provincial minister while issuing instructions to the Urban Unit said that they would conduct physical verification of women from the 12 districts of the South Punjab by assigning the duty of an official for one tehsil so that the work of verification of eligible women can be completed as soon as possible.
On this occasion, DG Livestock (Extension) Dr. Muhammad Ashraf told the provincial minister during the briefing that the now number of merchants for livestock card is 936 and 7 merchants per tehsil will perform their services. He said that so far about 27 thousand potential farmers and more than 2 lakh animals been identified for livestock card.
In the meeting, Additional Secretary Livestock Dr. Usman Tahir, Director General (Research) Dr. Sajjad Hussain, DG (Production) Dr. Muhammad Yusuf, Bank of Punjab Group Chief Corporate and Investment Nofal Dawood, PITB, Urban Unit Punjab and representatives of Social Protection Authority also participated.
