Progress on distribution of CM’s Livestock Cards reviewed

LAHORE:A meeting was held at the Livestock Department under the chairmanship of the Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani.

The meeting reviewed progress on the distribution of the Chief Minister’s Livestock Card and the project to distribute livestock assets to rural women across 12 districts of South Punjab. Secretary Livestock Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel was also present while President Bank of Punjab Zafar Masud participated online.

On this occasion, the minister stated that the Livestock Card is a significant initiative by the chief minister, which will benefit livestock farmers. Through the Livestock Card, farmers can purchase feed (Wanda), silage, and mineral mixtures for their animals. The card also provides livestock farmers with interest-free loans of up to Rs27,000 per animal.

The minister endorsed that the distribution of the Chief Minister’s Livestock Card began on December 5, and so far, 3,000 cards have been delivered, with 117,000 applications received.

The Bank of Punjab has approved 9,600 applications for the Livestock Card, representing a total of 68,000 animals, and the verification process for additional applicants is ongoing. Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani further stated that there are 942 registered merchants across Punjab for the Livestock Card, and purchases through the card started from December 16. So far, 16 livestock farmers have made purchases worth Rs350,000.

The minister emphasised that the project to distribute livestock assets among rural widows and divorced women of South Punjab is a milestone for improving the livelihoods of poor women. This initiative is a significant programme for women's empowerment by the chief minister. Applications received for asset distribution is for 12 districts of South Punjab based on their allocated quotas, and in the first year, 5,000 widows and divorced women will be selected through an electronic draw. Subsequently, manual draws will be conducted to distribute high-quality breed of animals, including (cows/buffaloes).

The minister added that over 110,000 women have submitted applications so far. The Punjab IT Board (PITB) has sent approximately 14,000 applications for physical verification to the Urban Unit, which has verified 3,100 applications to date. Eligible women will have bank accounts opened in the Bank of Punjab, with an initial facility of Rs5,000 provided in each account. The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Livestock Usman Tahir, Directors General for Extension and Production (Livestock), Executive Vice President Bank of Punjab Rai Usman Mujahid, representatives from PITB, Urban Unit, and Punjab Social Protection Authority.