Farmers advocate for aligning natural, agri potentials with modern standards

Mohammad Asif Awan, president of the Livestock Welfare Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has urged the government to bring the country's natural and farm resources in line with current benchmarks, according to Business Recorder. He said such a move could help curb yearly financial losses worth billions of rupees. Awan noted that only four percent of milk is processed, while the rest is lost under poor conditions.

Awan argued that effective policy reforms, strict food safety enforcement and modern export certification could add USD3 to USD5 billion a year to export earnings. He called for a national livestock export policy, disease-free zones and upgraded systems covering animal health, immunisation and traceability through advanced technology. Facilities that are old and below standard ought to be closed, while slaughterhouses and milk processing units must hold international quality certification.

A coordination cell linking the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, food authorities and the Trade Development Authority was proposed to make sure exports meet the required benchmarks. Financial incentives, training and simpler certification steps were also suggested for exporters. The statement stresses that Pakistan is among the leading milk producers, yet its exports remain far below those of India, Turkey and Iran.