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Cabinet asked to upgrade livestock wing as division

AMER SIAL

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock has forwarded a summary to the Cabinet to upgrade the livestock wing as division.

According to sources, the summary has stressed the need for livestock division as sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirement of WTO to handle technical affairs, as the export potential of livestock and its derivatives is immense.

Despite lack of interest shown by different governments, livestock sector plays a vital role in the economy of the country and it accounted for 37 percent of agriculture value-added products and 9.1 percent of total GDP in 1998-99.

Livestock was given the status of a division in 1974 but it was down-graded in the 'right-sizing' drive of the caretaker government of Moeen Qureshi. This resulted in reduction of 27 posts out of a total strength of 120 posts and, at present, the poultry sector is neglected as the technical post attached with it was abolished.

The establishment of division would help in solving different administrative problems, as at present the wing has to take permission for everything from the ministry, sources said.

The European Union and Middle East states have emerged as potential export markets for livestock products of the country. The export of live cattle, meat and other allied products to these countries is on the rise and livestock division is needed for the emerging requirements, sources said quoting from the summary.