March 20, 2009

Pakistan's mutton and beef production has increased 47.5 percent to 2.19 million tonnes in 2008-09 from 1.48 million tonnes in 1995-96.

Demand for livestock products including dairy and meat would definitely increase in the coming years, according to sources in Livestock and Dairy Development Board.

Future demand will be greater than the population growth rate and rapid urbanisation, the sources said, adding that rising income would be the second most important factor after population growth in rising demand for livestock products.

The Pakistani government has taken a number of initiatives to improve livestock production, the sources said.

The government has placed livestock onto the national development agenda, drawing up livestock supportive policies coupled with improved disease control services, artificial insemination services, and progeny testing programme to help achieve sustainable growth in the livestock sector, said Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd, Federal Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development.

Apart from provincial government programmes, the federal government has increased public sector investments in the livestock industry, and is implementing developing programmes worth Rs8.8 billion (US$109.5 million), he said.