Exporting Halal Meat from Punjab

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that
the government is taking all out measures for the promotion of
investment by creating conducive atmosphere in the province to
encourage the investors.
He said that there is a wide scope of
investment in livestock, agriculture and other sectors and Punjab
Investment Board is playing an important role for the promotion of
investment.
He was presiding over a meeting of Punjab Board of
Investment and Trade to review the performance of the board and
measures taken for promotion of investment here on Friday. Chief
Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of
Agriculture and Industries Departments, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment
Board, Chief Executive PAMCO and officers concerned were present.
The
CM said that Punjab is rich in natural resources and there are vast
opportunities of investment in different sectors. He said that a
proactive investment board has been set up for this purpose comprising
professionals and experts in industries and other sectors. He said that
security situation of the country has adversely affected the
performance of different sectors and also left a negative impact on
foreign investment. However, he said, efforts should be continued for
the promotion of investment and maximum facilities should be extended
to investors. He said that the Punjab government could earn huge
foreign exchange through development of livestock and agriculture
sectors under public-private partnership. He said that Malaysia is
currently importing 60 percent Halal meat from India while other
Islamic countries are also importing this meat from various countries.
He said that Punjab can also export Halal meat to these countries by
setting up meat processing plants by utilizing modern technology and
there is a need for promotion of public-private partnership in this
regard in a transparent manner. He said that the Punjab government has
also taken revolutionary measures for the uplift of livestock sector in
Cholistan and a sum of Rs25 crore has been allocated for this purpose
so that Cholistanis could also participate in the development of
livestock sector in their area. He said that the Punjab government has
completed the project of setting up of IT labs in more than 4000
schools of the province with the cooperation of international companies
and this model should be replicated for the promotion of public-private
partnership in livestock and agriculture sectors and maximum
encouragement should be extended to investors.