Five airport cold storages being set up in Punjab: CM

[LRE]

Five airport cold storages being set up in Punjab: CM



Saturday, September 13, 2008
By Our Correspondent

LAHORE

PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the livestock sector is the backbone of the country’s economy and its development can help in eradicating poverty.

Addressing a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Punjab Agri Marketing Company here on Friday, Shahbaz said measures were being taken for the socio-economic uplift of the farmers, adding that they would get due returns of their produce. He said five airport cold storages were being constructed in Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Rahimyar Khan.

“Vegetables, fruits and other eatables will be stored in the cold storages for the purpose of export,” he said, adding that Rs 750 million were being provided for the project.

He issued directions for early completion of the construction of the storages as well as a third party audit of the project.

He also constituted a special committee, headed by Punjab Agriculture minister, for reviewing provision of funds, machinery and other facilities for the project.

The chief minister said the cold storage at the Lahore airport would be completed by July 2009, adding that huge foreign exchange could be earned through export of livestock, fruits and vegetables to Gulf, Europe and South America.

He said he would talk to the prime minister and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) himself for establishing cold storage at the Multan airport to complete the storage project as early as possible.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to concentrate on development of livestock sector as it could bring huge foreign exchange in the country.

The Punjab Agri Marketing Company Chief Executive Officer Mansoor Aafrin also spoke on the occasion.

Minister for Agriculture Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretary Finance, Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development, Special Secretary Agriculture Marketing, Mohsin Ranjha, Mian Shaukat Ali and Haroon Khawaja were also present.

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