Punjab's animal exports rose by 43 per cent, according to a provincial livestock official who said the province is now preparing 400,000 animals for export each year. Dr Naila Maqsood, Additional Director Livestock for the Sargodha Region, made the remarks on Tuesday, 20 October. She said the increase included Sargodha's contribution and was expected to bring Rs11 billion in earnings to rural livestock farmers.
Dr Naila said the provincial government was trying to strengthen the sector by creating a supportive environment and better facilities for farmers. She credited the Chief Minister's Punjab Livestock Card Scheme, under which farmers receive Rs27,000 per animal to meet feed and fodder costs. A government handout said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the scheme and that 129,581 animals raised under it had been exported.
Export figures and district breakdown
Giving district-wise figures, Dr Naila said 20,000 animals had been exported from Lahore, 24,297 from Bahawalpur and 12,529 from Faisalabad. Multan was given as 27,000, Sargodha as 22,000 and Sahiwal as 2,661. A single figure of 21,000 was given for Gujranwala and Gujrat together.
The government has also linked 1,725 fattening farms, 20 export slaughterhouses, 88 meat exporters and 34 meat traders through what it calls the Livestock Connect system. Dr Naila said the number of rural women farmers registered under the Livestock Card Scheme had risen from 90 to 1,107.
Disease zones, plants and investment
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a contagious viral illness that affects cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The province has notified eight FMD compartments, which are controlled zones meant to keep the disease out, and plans seven more this year, including one in Sargodha. The stated aim is to support Punjab animal exports to China, Europe and the United States.
Further plans include five meat-processing plants, five modern slaughterhouses, meat-packing facilities, and commercial and corporate feedlots, where animals are fattened in pens. The government said it would offer Rs19 billion in financing subsidies for investments across the livestock value chain, and expects private investment of Rs65 billion in the meat sector. Punjab also plans its first FMD vaccine production unit under a public-private partnership, with private investment of Rs28 billion.
What comes next
The chief minister said the government aimed to give farmers better access to national exporters and international online markets. Most of the figures are official statements or projections, and the sources do not give dates for the new plants, slaughterhouses or vaccine unit beyond this year. The export and earnings numbers have not been independently verified.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab mein janwaron ki exports mein 43 fisad izafa hua hai, aur sarkari afsar ke mutabiq 400,000 janwar export ke liye tayar hain. Card scheme ke tahat kisanon ko har janwar par Rs27,000 chara aur khuraak ke liye milte hain. Gosht ke plants, zabeehkhanon aur bimari se mehfooz zones ke mansoobe abhi sirf mansoobe hain, lekin inse kaam ke naye mauqay ban sakte hain.
