Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) will execute the ‘Enhancing Beef Production in Punjab’ project through cross breeding with exotic beef semen in five districts of the province Bhakkar, Rajanpur, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and Mianwali with a view to meet the domestic requirement of beef as well as preparing a base for meat export.
The scheme had actually been prepared by the Punjab government back in year 2009 under which, Livestock and Dairy Development Department (LD&D) had to work in 10 districts of the province for enhancing beef production. These districts were Bhakkar, Rajanpur, Layyah, DG Khan, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Khushab, Jehlum, Attock and Chakwal. The project was aimed at preparing a base for meat export in line with the international standards and opening up a new horizon for meat industry in the country, sources in the livestock department told Business Recorder on Thursday.
Sources said that work on this project could not be carried out due to various reasons and later it was transferred to Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO), the then Lahore Meat Company in year 2011 for implementation. Nevertheless, the Company also failed to take up the project despite release of funds and the same was given to Directorate of Livestock Farms.
However, in a recent meeting the sitting Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Secretary in a joint meeting of PAMCO, LD&D and PLDDB decided that the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board, which was already carrying out activities of artificial insemination through training of young men and women as Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) and Women Livestock Workers (WLWs) be made in charge of the project in five out of the total 10 districts to kick-off the project.
The Board, through its Capacity Building and Farm Services wing would carry out activities with the assistance of its trained field co-ordinators and AIAs, the sources added. The meeting also decided that the semen purchased under this project and available with the District Livestock Officers of Bhakkar, Rajanpur, Layyah, DG Khan and Mianwali should handover the received exotic beef semen doses to the field co-ordinators of the Board in their respective districts with in a week.
