BAHAWALPUR: South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) retired Capt Saqib Zafar has said the government intended to launch mega projects of corporate and dairy farming and bring swathes of barren lands under cultivation in south Punjab region, particularly in Cholistan.

According to an official handout, he said this during a visit to Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS) in Bahawalpur.

On the occasion, CUVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sajjad Ahmed and South Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Secretary Nasir Jamal Hotiana briefed the ACS about the university’s progress and the measures being taken to increase the livestock’s number in the desert region.

The VC said the introduction of corporate farming and conversion of the barren land into cultivable lands was need of the hour in view of the increasing population.

Addressing the varsity students, the ACS said the proposed mega projects of corporate dairy farming will play an important role in the country’s economy.

He said in south Punjab the dairy development sector in Cholistan will not only meet the needs of country’s food but will also help increase export of hides and leather products’ to Gulf states and other countries, fetching foreign exchange to Pakistan.

In this connection, he also referred to the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) by the federal government for the promotion of corporate farming in the country.

During his visit, the ACS inspected various departments of the university, where he was briefed by the VC regarding animal breeding and research centre, and the functioning of the departments.

The VC told the ACS that CUVAS has been established on an area of 1,000 acres, while 27 departments, including 15 for undergraduate, 11 for post-graduate and one for PhD students were functioning there.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2023