Pakistan Dairy Development Company will set up as many as 1,000 model dairy farms, which would provide 3 billion liters additional milk during the upcoming years, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr R.H Usmani said. The project envisages model milk procurement system in Pakistan besides setting up a total of 6,000 farm cooling tanks, Usmani told the reporters. These activities will provide 3 million additional jobs. Usmani said work on Prime Minister's special imitative for livestock has also been initiated at a cost of Rs1696.4 million to provide services to farmers at their doorsteps. He said it is targeting 13 million rural poor in about 1,963 union councils of 80 districts, under Community Livestock Extension Work (CLEWs). The project is helping in additional annual milk produce and meat production of 2 million tons and 0.2 million tons respectively, he added. Usmani said the project will enhance micro-credit capacity. He said livestock sector is playing an important role in national economy and contributed to 50 per cent of agriculture value and 11 per cent to total GDP during last year. The population growth, urbanization and increase in per capita have enhanced demand of livestock and livestock products resulting huge pressure on this sector, he said. Usmani said livestock is a net source of foreign exchange earning 8.0 per cent share annually and noticed rapid growth during last year. The value of livestock in current GNP at cost factor has increased from Rs 687 billion to Rs 758 billion in 2006 showing an increase of 10.4 per cent.
