‘Agriculture can bring foreign exchange for Pakistan’

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Ahmed Ali said agriculture was an important source of foreign exchange for Pakistan.

Chairing a seminar on providing technical skill to rural youth about artificial insemination on Friday, he said share of livestock was 11.6 per cent while of agriculture was 55 per cent in GDP and both played a vital role in national economy. He said 40 million populations were dependent upon livestock due to which the Punjab government had prioritized the livestock and agriculture sectors.

The minister said steps were being taken to boost milk and meat production throughout the province, for which Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board and it attained success. He said so far more than 4000 rural young boys and girls have been trained while over 55000 animals were inseminated. The minister said these steps created more employment opportunities in the rural community and youth are taking interest in cattle breeding. PLDDB CEO Maj Gen (Retd) Muhammad Ali Khan said this work has been initiated from southern Punjab, which would be extended throughout Punjab, gradually. He said field coordination offices have been set up in DG Khan, Bhakkar, Jhang, Kasur, Layyah, Narowal and Muzaffargarh.

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