The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore on Friday arranged a meeting to review progress on arrangements for International Buffalo Congress (IBC) 2019 and National Livestock Show which will be held from February 18, 2019.
Minister for Livestock & Dairy Development Department Punjab Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak, presided over the meeting and sought suggestions and technical inputs from stakeholders to make the congress a successful/beneficial event. Secretary Livestock & Dairy Development Department Punjab Muhammad Ahsan Waheed, Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Director General Walled City Lahore Kamran Lashari, Former Federal Minister for Privatization/President WWF Pakistan Altaf M Saleem and representative from Livestock Department, Buffalo Research Institute (BRI) and Buffalo Breeder Association were present.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that it is direly needed to focus on key elements which make the IBC result oriented conference not only for the uplift of national economy also for the benefit of poor farming community. He said role of UVAS would be very effective for organizing this conference and our farming community and stakeholders would get maximum benefit from it.
DG Walled City Kamran Lashari suggested showcasing our culture and food items of Lahore to national and international experts/guest speakers coming from different parts of worldby arranging recreational tours of Lahore city like historical buildings, shrines, monuments, markets, folk dance, music, handicrafts and dairy related food items (Lassi, butter, falooda, tukh malinga drinks) etc.
Earlier Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha spoke about collaborations, preparations/arrangements for regarding International Buffalo Congress. He said national and international academicians, researchers experts/professionals from Pakistan, Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy Romania, Nepal and the USA will participate in the congress.
He said various aspects will be discussed in IBC regarding innovative knowledge and research, technical sessions for the enhancement of milk production, socio-economic aspects of buffalo production, buffalo management, physiology, health, reproduction, environmental aspects, genetics and breed improvement, buffalo nutrition and feed resources and disease control etc. He also spoke about the registration, abstract submission, national and international representations and post congress events.
Buffalo Research Institute Chief Research Officer Dr Maqsood Akhtar gave a presentation on International Buffalo Congress and its different activities like buffalo milk competition, beauty contest, exhibition, awareness seminar/training/workshop for the guidance of farming community and participation/registration of public & private organisations in the event.
An open discussion was held in which participants put forward various suggestions. Presidant Buffalo Breeder Association Haji Saeed Hasan Hotiana called for imposing ban on loose milk while Altaf M Saleem talked about the objectives, challenges, outcomes and goal of the conference for growth of national economy and enhancing export of livestock products.