KARACHI: Sindh ministers Saeed Ghani and Abdul Bari Pitafi announced on Sunday that the government was holding a two-day livestock expo at Hyderabad that would prove to be a ‘milestone’ in boosting the sector.

“We are holding Sindh Livestock Expo on Feb 8 and 9 in Hyderabad and the event will prove to be remarkable in many respects,” said Pitafi at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.

Minister for Information Ghani said that by organising the expo, Sindh government was trying to boost investment in livestock sector and improve the province’s image on national and international fronts.

He said the only purpose of the press conference was to create awareness among people of Sindh vis-à-vis efforts of the provincial government towards boosting the sector, which was long overdue.

He said that breeders and livestock owners from other provinces besides people from all walks of life had been invited to attend the event. “The expo is aimed at promoting cattle farming as well as all other types of livestock farming in the province,” he added.

Ghani said that all arrangements for the programmed had been made and the government was doing its best to make it a grand event. The provincial government wanted growth of livestock sector to a level where it could contribute effectively to the improvement of economic prospects of the province, he said.

Minister for Livestock Pitafi said the government was devising a new policy concerning the development of livestock sector in the province and the event would be a big step towards it.

He said the expo would be helpful for those who wanted to know more about the livestock information management, livestock breeding, genetics and genomics, disease control and product development.

Pitafi said the livestock entrepreneurship and transfer of livestock technologies would also be promoted through the event. In addition to the main event, bird, dog and cats shows would also be arranged on the sidelines for the entertainment of families, children in particular, he said.

He said the main purpose of the programme was to give an opportunity to traditional livestock owners to turn their livestock into market-oriented farm animals. Sindh had great potential in livestock and dairy farming, he said.

Later, the ministers led the ‘Sindh Livestock Expo 2020 Rally’ comprising more than 70 vehicles. It began its journey from Karachi Press Club and ended at Poultry Research Institute, Korangi, from where it would resume its journey towards Hyderabad en route Thatta on Monday.

Ghani said in his address to the rally participants in front of the press club before it commenced its journey that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPPP) would resist federal government’s attempts to change the nomenclature of Benazir Income Support Prog­ramme (BISP), PPI adds.

He said the programme’s name had been designated through legislation and all the parties had approved not only the name but also the entire programme through consensus. If someone wanted to change the name he would have to amend the Constitution, he said.

He rejected claims that PPP had launched the BISP to facilitate its own sympathisers. People loved Benazir Bhutto unconditionally and they would oppose any move to change the BISP name, he said.

The minister said that in fact Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders were afraid of even the name of Benazir Bhutto.

In near future, the BISP cards would be given to labourers and workers as well.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2020