Delegation of Karakalpakstan Visited Livestock Department Punjab
An important meeting was held at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, in honour of a high-level governmental and business delegation of Karakalpakstan. H.E. Ermanov Farhod Urazbaevich, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Republic of Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) led the delegation. The meeting focused on exploring opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Punjab and Uzbekistan in the fields of livestock, agriculture, trade, investment, research, modern technology, and capacity building.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Livestock Punjab Ahmed Aziz Tarar, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, H.E. Tuytaev Alisher Hakimovich, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, members of the Uzbek delegation, progressive farmers, investors, subject experts, and senior officials from relevant institutions.
Potential of Livestock of Punjab
Secretary Livestock Punjab Ahmed Aziz Tarar briefed the delegation on the strength of Punjab’s livestock sector, government initiatives, investment opportunities, and ongoing development programmes. He highlighted that Punjab is Pakistan’s largest livestock-producing province and that the sector plays a pivotal role in the national economy. He further informed the delegation that Punjab is renowned for its superior genetic breeds of buffaloes, cattle, sheep, and goats, and has made significant progress in breed improvement programmes, artificial insemination, embryo transfer technology, value addition, and scientific research.
گورنر تاشقند کی قیادت میں ازبکستانی وفد کی سیکرٹری لائیوسٹاک اور ایگریکلچر سے ملاقات
He also presented the visiting delegation with an informational booklet prepared by the Punjab Livestock Department, containing comprehensive information about Punjab’s livestock sector, research institutions, genetic resources, investment opportunities, and development initiatives.
Secretary Livestock stated that Punjab is producing premium-quality beef in accordance with international standards and that Pakistan is already exporting meat to Uzbekistan. He emphasized that both countries have vast potential for cooperation in meat trade, exchange of superior genetic breeds, breed improvement, veterinary sciences, research, modern technologies, and capacity building, which could further strengthen bilateral economic relations.
Interest of Delegation of Karakalpakstan in Livestock
Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, H.E. Ermanov Farhod Urazbaevich, appreciated the hospitality extended by the Government of Punjab and the Livestock Department. He stated that food security and livestock development are among Uzbekistan’s key national priorities. Ermanov Farhod Urazbaevich expressed Uzbekistan’s strong interest in establishing a long-term partnership with Pakistan, particularly Punjab, in livestock, agriculture, trade, research, and modern technologies.
He noted that Uzbekistan is currently importing meat from several countries, including Pakistan, and that approximately 4,000 metric tons of meat have recently been imported from Pakistan. He also expressed keen interest in importing high-genetic-potential beef breeds, female breeding animals, and sheep to enhance the productivity and genetic quality of Uzbekistan’s livestock sector.
Plan of Delegation of Karakalpakstan
Members of the Uzbek delegation, including progressive farmers, shared their plans to initially import around 1,000 high-quality breeding animals and sought the cooperation of the Government of Punjab in this regard. The delegation also expressed interest in collaboration in beef and dairy farming, poultry production, import of superior female breeding animals, farmers’ capacity building, advanced production technologies, research and development, breed improvement programmes, and joint research initiatives with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS).
Invitation to visit Karakalpakstan
They also invited Punjab’s livestock experts to visit Uzbekistan to promote scientific collaboration, technical cooperation, and the exchange of best practices.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Secretary Livestock Punjab Ahmed Aziz Tarar presented a commemorative souvenir to the distinguished Uzbek delegation on behalf of the Punjab Livestock Department.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation through enhanced collaboration in livestock, trade, investment, research, modern technology, genetic improvement, capacity building, and institutional linkages, with the shared objective of promoting economic partnership, ensuring food security, and achieving the sustainable development of the livestock sector in both countries.
