Pakistan Dairy Association hosted a one day dairy seminar in Islamabad today at Serena Hotel Islamabad. The seminar aimed to gather all the relevant stakeholders at one place to share their expertise and reach a consensus to uplift the dairy industry. Moreover, the seminar also served as a platform to talk about legislations to control the provision of unsafe milk in consumer markets. The event was opened by Syed Yawar Ali, Chairman Nestle Pakistan. The seminar was chaired by Mr. Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research. Stakeholders from Government of Pakistan, dairy industry, regulatory bodies and media attended the event among international guests and speakers from IFCN, WHO, International Dairy Federation and Government of Turkey. These speakers shared varied insights and facts on dairy industry in their respective markets. The event also saw the launch of the second edition of Economic Impact Report, an independent study conducted by LUMS, which covers the economic impact of Pakistan’s Dairy Sector. The dairy sector of Pakistan has become one of the most vibrant and strategic sectors with a major impact on the national economy, public health and the environment. Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan said at the inaugural session that Pakistan is an Agricultural country and agriculture is backbone of its rural economy as it provides employment to 42.31 % workforce of country. Livestock is the largest contributor of the agriculture. About 35 -40 million rural populations derive their livelihood from livestock production as a primary or secondary activity. Over 7.5 million farming families are directly involved in livestock farming, the majority of which is small holders and landless. As per the economic survey 2018-19 government of Pakistan, the livestock sector contributes 58.9 % to the agriculture value added products and 11.1 % to the national GDP, which is higher than the contribution made by the entire crop sector, added the minister. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said due to the constraints in the value chain, the export of milk and its value addition is very limited. There will be tremendous opportunities for the smallholder farmers to add value to raw milk by producing a wide variety of processed products, to increase the return above the base price of raw milk. While concluding his address Federal Minister said that such interventions should be initiated by the private sector with close collaboration with the government and public-sector research organizations. I hope that this Seminar could provide the road map for the dairy value chain in Pakistan. While expressing his views about the seminar, Sulaiman Monnoo, the chairman, Pakistan Dairy Association, said, “The Punjab Government is taking a very positive step by introducing a minimum pasteurization law to ensure that all the milk being produced is free of adulterants and harmful bacteria and complies with certain minimum nutritional standards that make it fit for consumption.” The seminar will provide a platform to Government of Pakistan to take necessary steps for the provision of safe milk to consumers. The main objective is to have all stakeholders understand the challenges that are inherent to the sector and to work together for one common goal i.e. a healthy and prosperous Pakistan. We as the Pakistan Dairy Association wish to extend our full support to the government in implementing the pasteurization law in Pakistan to develop the Dairy Sector so that it can become a key contributor to the country’s economic growth,” added Mr. Sulaiman Monnoo. *-*-*
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