By Our Correspondent
LAHORE; In important meeting was held in the Livestock Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, in which the recovery process of Livestock Card debt, the second phase of Assets Distribution among Rural Women, current status of ongoing departmental projects and the new initiatives and other projects of the Chief Minister Punjab in the budget of the department for the next financial year 2025-26 were reviewed. Secretary Livestock Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel attended.
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Provincial Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stated on this occasion that livestock farmers have benefited from the fruits of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s successful projects in the livestock sector, new employment opportunities have been created for them and their economic conditions has improved. Addressing the divisional directors, he said that indeed the growth of the livestock sector has improved in the financial year 2024-25 and the department has not received any complaint regarding the arrangements on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha, which is proof that all the directors make their best effort to fulfill the tasks given by the department. On this occasion, the Provincial Minister for Livestock directed the divisional directors to complete the process of recovery of livestock card debt as soon as possible and to assign more field officers in this regard. He endorsed that livestock card holders who repay their loan within the stipulated period will automatically be eligible for the next phase of the livestock card. While farmers who are unable to repay the loan amount will not be eligible for any scheme of the livestock department. The loan can be repaid between May 15 and June 15. He also approved the formation of a committee to complete the recovery process by June 23, which will include Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and members of the Revenue Department of the concerned districts. The provincial minister highlighted that the livestock card phase-two phase consists of 6 months and in it 3 lakh animals will be distributed among livestock farmers while the number of animals for one livestock farmer has been increased to 20. Applications for phase-two are being received between May 15 and June 15. So far, more than 93 thousand applications have been received. Out of which 22 thousand 973 have been approved, out of which the data of 21 thousand 840 thousand applications has been sent to the urban unit for physical verification and their survey in this regard has started from June 11. The Provincial Minister for Livestock expressed that such a large number of applications have not been registered on SPMS 9211, which requires the department’s to send them a message immediately so that the livestock farmers will be able to submit their applications on the Livestock’s 9211 Link app or otherwise approach the nearest animal hospital in their area. The Provincial Minister further explained that the Urban Unit will complete the process of physical verification within a month. The first installment of the loan for the second phase of the Livestock Card will be released from July 15, and every new animal will be tagged.
The Provincial Minister further said that 5,500 animals have been already distributed to rural women in 12 districts of South Punjab under phase one of the scheme, while 5,500 animals will also be distributed in phase two of this scheme and applications for this will be received between June 20 and July 20. He ordered that the same day , distribution animals among rural women and issuance of the card by bank will be made possible. The Provincial Minister for Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, was briefed about the funds allocated for the completion of various schemes and projects under the Annual Development Program 2025-26 during the briefing. The Provincial Minister for Livestock was briefed about the Chief Minister’s three new initiatives in the budget for the next financial year 2025-26, Herd Transformation to Increase Livestock production, Livestock Department Internship Program and Foot & Mouth Disease Free Zone with Vaccination in Bahawalnagar District. Provincial Minister for Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani endorsed that the Punjab Livestock Connect (CONNECT) website has been launched. In which the data of all the slaughter houses, meat exporters, fattening farmers and livestock card holders farmers of the entire Punjab has been uploaded. Through this website livestock farmers can register their complaints, get information about livestock financing, and animal diseases. Livestock farmers will also be informed about the redressal of complaints in a timely manner by the department.The provincial minister while giving instructions to the livestock divisional , district directors and additional directors to update the data every three months and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard. He endorsed that the performance of the working officers will be appreciated.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary (Technical) Livestock Dr. Usman Tahir, Director Generals Extension, Production and Research (Livestock) and representatives of Bank of Punjab, PITB and Urban Unit. While Additional Secretary Livestock South Punjab Asad Naeem and directors of all divisions were present in the online meeting.
