RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the first-ever Punjab Livestock Card along with the inaugural Farmer Guidance App, designed to assist livestock farmers by providing interest-free loans for cattle fodder.
During a special meeting held in Murree on Saturday, focused on enhancing livestock management, Chief Minister Sharif endorsed several key initiatives. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Provincial Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain, Special Assistant Rashid Nasrullah, Chief Secretary Zahida Akhtar Zaman, Secretary of Livestock, and other officials were present at the meeting.
She instructed the relevant department to develop a comprehensive dairy farming plan for South Punjab, emphasizing the government’s commitment to leading the region’s livestock farmers towards economic independence.
Officials provided a detailed briefing at the meeting, noting that the new initiatives would include evaluating interest-free loan provisions in easy installments for both male and female dairy farmers in rural South Punjab. Initially, the Punjab Livestock Card will benefit 40,000 farmers across the province.
Additionally, the scheme will facilitate the export of 400,000 kg of animal meat. Farmers will also receive complimentary animal tagging services and access to quality testing for wanda and silage.
The meeting revealed plans for offering farmers easy loans of Rs270,000 for purchasing wanda, silage, and mineral mixtures. The card scheme will allow farmers to repay these loans within 30 days.
The introduction of an animal identity traceability system in Punjab aims to improve livestock maintenance efficiency.
