In line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab Government is implementing comprehensive reforms to promote the livestock sector, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and increase milk and meat production across the province. Under the supervision of Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and the leadership of Secretary Livestock Punjab Ahmed Aziz Tarar, the Livestock Department is actively providing modern veterinary facilities, breed improvement services, and farmer-friendly development programs.
As part of these efforts, Dr. Sajid Iqbal, Director Livestock Sargodha, appeared as a special guest on Radio Pakistan Sargodha’s popular program “Shaheen Sargodha.” During the broadcast, he informed livestock farmers and the rural community about the department’s services, modern animal husbandry practices, artificial insemination, breed improvement programs, government initiatives, and future development plans.
Dr. Sajid Iqbal stated that the livestock sector is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and serves as the primary source of income for a large segment of the rural population. He noted that sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, and camels not only meet the country’s nutritional needs but also provide livelihoods for millions of families.
He emphasized that balanced nutrition, clean drinking water, high-quality silage, and essential mineral supplements are crucial for improving milk and meat production. He advised farmers to prepare and preserve silage in a timely manner to ensure the availability of quality feed throughout the year and enhance the productivity of their animals.
Dr. Iqbal said that livestock service centers provide animal feed, mineral supplements, and other essential products. He added that advanced artificial insemination facilities are also available. Every ten days, semen from superior breeds, including the Nili-Ravi buffalo, is transported from Qadirabad under a properly maintained cold chain and distributed across all districts of the Sargodha Division.
He further explained that Friesian semen is available at approximately PKR 150 per dose, sexed semen costs around PKR 1,600 to 1,700 per dose, while Brahman semen is also available for improving beef production. He urged farmers to make full use of the department’s Artificial Insemination (AI) technicians to produce high-quality livestock and significantly increase milk and meat yields.
Dr. Sajid Iqbal also shared that the Sargodha Division has 303 veterinary hospitals, numerous veterinary dispensaries, around 20 mobile veterinary dispensaries, AI technicians, and other field staff providing services to livestock owners. The department regularly organizes farmer meetings, seminars, school awareness programs, mobile veterinary services, and public awareness campaigns.
He added that farmers are benefiting from various welfare initiatives, including the Punjab Livestock Card Scheme. Furthermore, model veterinary hospitals will be established at the tehsil level, while additional development schemes for the sheep, goat, and poultry sectors are also underway.
He appealed to livestock farmers to contact their nearest Livestock Department office, field staff, or the department’s helpline 0800-9211 for further information and technical guidance.
The program was hosted by Sabtain Baloch, produced by Muhammad Jamshed Qadri, with Fareeha Kanwal serving as Executive Producer and Zeeshan Afzal as Studio Engineer. The program was broadcast from Radio Pakistan Sargodha.
