CM Buzdar inaugurates International Buffalo Congress & Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is striving for the development of livestock sector on scientific lines and as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan on the  inauguration of  International Buffalo Congress & Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre

CM Buzdar inaugurates International Buffalo Congress & Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre

The chief minister said that the Punjab government has taken various initiatives for the promotion of livestock and poultry with focus on the development of commonly neglected rural population. The government wants every individual farmer develop, learn and adopt the latest farming techniques and get maximum produce of milk and meat, which will consequently contribute to development of national economy in a big way, the CM said in his address to a galaxy of scientists after inaugurating International Buffalo Congress-2019 organised by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore in collaboration with Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab and other partners here Monday.   

The Chief Minister called for promoting a research culture to enhance milk and meat yield. He said that buffalo known as black gold is an important component of livestock in terms of its milk, meat production and draught power and it is the right time to showcase its potential in the international market through the International Buffalo Congress and buffalo fair. He hoped that the scientists, researchers and academicians attending the buffalo congress from across the world will finalize useful recommendations for development of buffalo and livestock sector, which will contribute to food security and poverty-reduction in the country.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre, which will work on promotion of research on buffalo in China and Pakistan.

Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Sardar Hasnain Bahadar Dareshak,  Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Livestock Faisal Hayat Jabwana, Minister for ‏‏Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Muhammad Ahsan Waheed, Secretary International Buffalo Federation Dr Antonio Borghese and a large number of national and international delegation, professionals and Livestock Department official were attended the inaugural session of International Buffalo Congress (IBC) 2019.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Sino-Pak Buffalo Research Centre, which will work on promotion of research on buffalo in China and Pakistan.

Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Sardar Hasnain Bahadar Daresha said that the government has taken effective steps to improve livestock in the province and to ensure better quality of meat and dairy products. “The overall livestock development strategy revolves around fostering private sector-led development with public sector providing an enabling environment through policy interventions,” the minister added.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha spoke about the importance of buffalo and said that buffalo development will significantly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals of food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, economic growth and employment. He said that despite buffalo’s importance, institutional efforts, resource allocation, research and development are minimal; as a consequence its potential contribution has not been fully realized.

He said that more than 500 delegates from Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the United States of America are attending the congress.  He said the congress is spread over one plenary and 14 technical sessions and a farmer-industry forum, 12 business meetings, seven pre-congress workshops, 100 each posters and oral presentations on 10 different aspects of buffalo. 

About the national livestock show/buffalo fair at Buffalo Research Institute Pattoki, the Vice-Chancellor said that about 1,000 elite animals from all over the country have been registered for different competitions.  A trade exhibition has also been arranged at BRI, Pattoki.

About the Sino-Pak Joint Research Centre for Buffalo, Prof Pasha said that this center will build a scientific platform for cooperative research and long-term development in the field of buffalo science between China and Pakistan.