CM opens Rs 1b Lahore Meat Processing Complex

[Salman]

CM opens Rs 1b Lahore Meat Processing Complex


CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the Lahore Meat Processing Complex, a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse, completed at a cost of Rs1 billion in collaboration with Iran at Shahpur Kanjran on Sunday.

He also announced one month’s salary as bonus to the staff of the slaughterhouse on completion of the slaughterhouse in a record period of 10 months and gave away souvenirs to those showing best performance.

Expressing his displeasure over laying of carpets in the venue of the ceremony of slaughterhouse, the CM said the resources were trust of the nation and wasting the resources could not be allowed. He said the Punjab government had adopted simplicity and simple tea, Daal and rice were also served to the guests in his office. Why carpets were laid in the venue of the function despite his clear instructions, he asked. He said the Punjab government would not pay the bill of the carpets laid in the venue of the function but those who laid these carpets would pay the bill.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Shahbaz congratulated the Lahorites and people of Punjab on the completion of the most modern slaughterhouse on the occasion of birthday of Quaid-i-Azam. He said the project was an important step with regard to agriculture and economy and it would increase exports. He said that due to completion of the project, not only the best meat according to hygienic principles would be available to the citizens but a huge foreign exchange would also be earned through its export from Punjab to Iran and other countries.

The chief minister said the project reflected historical, cultural and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, adding that the joint venture was a milestone between the two countries and hoped that more such joint ventures would be started in the coming days. He said such ventures would guarantee the economic and trade development in the region.

He said vast opportunities of development of livestock sector were also available in the country and the Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme of development of the sector and for the first time, meat had been exported from Punjab.

The CM said that Muslim countries imported meat worth billions of dollars from various countries in which the share of Pakistan was negligible. He said that despite common borders, Iran imported meat of 800 million dollars from other countries. He said Pakistan had the capacity of exporting the best Hilal meat not only to Iran but also to other countries by improving the livestock sector. He said the Punjab government would make an agreement of exporting meat of 160 million dollars to Iran.

He urged that Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and other Muslim countries to launch similar joint ventures for the progress and prosperity.

Shahbaz said that on birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam, we would have to make a pledge that we would make honesty, trust and hard work our motto for transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideas of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said the nations never progressed through charity of foreigners, adding that we relied upon charity instead of developing our indigenous resources during the last 64 years. He said time had come to develop indigenous resources by renouncing foreign aid for achieving the status of a dignified nation by adopting simplicity. He said the destiny of the country could be changed through promotion of modern knowledge, science and technology and untiring efforts. He said that although it was a difficult task yet it was not impossible. He said the living nations marched forward only through hard work and we had also to march towards the same direction speedily. He said Allama Iqbal had also given us the lesson of self-respect and the lost image of Pakistan could be restored by acting upon his thoughts.

He said the project of slaughterhouse would be free from politics and it would be run through management having the best professional abilities. He thanked Iran for extending cooperation in this joint venture and the efforts of former Secretary Livestock Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Livestock Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, Chief Executive Officer Punjab Agriculture & Meat Company Dr Hamid Jalil and his entire team were commendable.

Addressing the function, Project Manager Hassan Bina Razavi said the project of modern slaughterhouse reflected friendship and mutual cooperation of Iran and Pakistan spreading over centuries and the project is the result of joint efforts of Punjab and Iran.

Secretary Livestock Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh and Chief Executive Officer PAMCO Dr. Hamid Jalil also spoke.

Officials of the Iranian Consulate, members of a Turk delegation, elected representatives, the health department and a large number of citizens participated in the inaugural function of the slaughterhouse which was completed in a record period. Earlier, the chief minister inspected the slaughterhouse and visited its various sections.