LAHORE: Punjab’s livestock sector has seen a significant 43 percent rise in animal exports, with 400,000 animals prepared for export over the past year, resulting in an expected income of Rs11 billion for rural livestock farmers. According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, this development is part of the Livestock Card scheme initiated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, which provides farmers with Rs27,000 per animal to cover feed and fodder expenses.

The provincial government’s efforts to boost exports include the notification of eight Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) compartments, with plans to establish seven more, targeting markets in China, Europe, and the United States. A total of 129,581 animals reared under the scheme have already been exported. The government also plans to set up five meat-processing plants and five modern slaughterhouses, along with meat-packing facilities and commercial and corporate feedlots. Financing subsidies amounting to Rs19 billion will support integrated livestock value-chain investments, while private investment in the meat value chain is projected to reach Rs65 billion.

In a public-private partnership, Punjab will establish its first FMD vaccine production unit, with private investment anticipated at Rs28 billion. The district-wise export figures highlight significant contributions from various regions, including 20,000 animals from Lahore, 24,297 from Bahawalpur, and 22,000 from Sargodha, among others.

The Livestock Connect system has been instrumental in establishing direct links with 1,725 fattening farms, 20 export slaughterhouses, 88 meat exporters, and 34 meat traders. Notably, the number of rural women livestock farmers registered under the Livestock Card scheme has increased from 90 to 1,107. The chief minister emphasized the government’s commitment to connecting Punjab’s livestock farmers with both national exporters and international markets, aiming to position the province as a regional livestock hub.