Islamabad- President Dr. Arif Alvi has underlined the need for the development of livestock sector in the country, saying it can contribute to economic development, food security and poverty alleviation. Highlighting the importance of livestock in the economic development of Pakistan, the President stated that the sector had great potential to earn foreign exchange and it was essential to increase its export value by meeting international requirements and ensuring quality control of our products. The President gave these remarks while chairing a follow-up meeting on Meat Exports and Processing, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Secretaries and Director Generals of Livestock Departments, Members of All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA) and senior officials of Ministries of Commerce and National Food Security. The meeting reviewed the progress on the decisions taken during the last meeting. Secretary, Livestock Punjab, gave a presentation about the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in animals and informed the meeting about the efforts made by Provincial Government to control the disease. The meeting proposed various solutions and strategies for controlling FMD in the country. The meat exporters apprised the meeting about various issues and challenges being faced by them with regard to export of meat. The President asked the concerned Ministries/Departments to facilitate the meat exporters and address their problems, particularly the rationalization of certification process of Halal food and issuance of quarantine certificates. The President reiterated the Government’s commitment to address the problems of meat exporters and processors enabling them to enhance production and increase exports. He urged the private sector to play its role in promoting livestock sector as it had potential to generate foreign exchange as well as generate employment opportunities in the country.
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