‘Livestock sector Punjab’s economic backbone’

[Salman]

‘Livestock sector Punjab’s economic backbone’

LAHORE – The livestock sector can move the wheel of national economy if the department and the private sector formulate dairy, poultry and meat policies.
This was stated by outgoing Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department Secretary Hamid Yaoob Sheikh at an Iftar-cum-dinner hosted by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha on Tuesday evening in his and incumbent Secretary Irfan Elahi’s honour.
Ex-Chairman PPA Dr Raza Mehmood Khursand, Managing Director Big Bird Dr Abdul Karim Bhatti, Director Big Bird Dr Mustafa Kamal, , Solve Agri Pak CEO Haroon MK Lodhi, Dairy and Rural Development Foundation Project Director Jack Moser, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council President Dr Muhammad Arshad, Dean Faculty of Bio-Sciences Prof Dr Ijaz Ahmad, Dean Faculty of Animal Production and Technology Prof Dr Muhammad Abdullah and Dean Faculty of Life Sciences and Business Management Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman attended the function.
Yaqoob Sheikh said there was a policy gap in the livestock sector that needed to be addressed. He said the department and the university were collaborating in terms of capacity building and professional training of the field officers. He made it clear that the department had broken isolation and making comprehensive relationship with the industry.
Yaqoob said the Punjab Livestock Advisory Forum was a good initiative to identify the problems of farmers and industries, and suggest their solutions. Dr Pasha said the university and the department were now working together in crisis-like situation, including New Castle Disease, flood relief and Congo fever. He paid rich tribute to the outgoing secretary.
Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department Secretary Irfan Elahi said the department should provide all out support to the university and the private sector for boosting productivity. He said the livestock sector was Punjab’s economy backbone, adding the department and the university would bring about a positive change to improve the agricultural economy. Later, Dr Pasha presented a souvenir to Hamid Yaqoob.