AAMIR SAEED

ISLAMABAD: The revenue earned through export of dairy products has fallen from $28.37 million to $1.04 million in last three years of the present government while the country’s estimated annual gross milk production was recorded 54.328 million tons during 2015-16.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security and Research Rajab Ali Baloch informed this to National Assembly on Thursday during the Question Hour.

He informed the house that during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16, the total revenue earned was $28.37 million, $1.71 million and $1.04 million respectively through export of the dairy products.

Pakistan is one of the leading milk producing country in the world with national dairy herd of 12.6 million cattle and 13.7 million buffaloes with an estimated annual gross milk production of 54.328 million tons during 2015-16, he said.

The parliamentary secretary said that around 5 percent of the total milk production out of the annual production is being processed in 20 milk/dairy processing units being operated by the private sector which produces approximately 2.72 million tons of processed milk/ dairy products annually.

According to last livestock census conducted in 2006, the province-wise total number of households (having cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and camels) associated with dairy sector are 12.59 millions for Punjab, 4.11 millions for Sindh, 3.24 millions for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 0.93 million for Balochistan, he said.

Baloch said that it is responsibility of the provincial governments to regulate prices of milk and check its quality.

He said the Punjab government has established Punjab Food Authority to keep a check on quality of milk and other food items.

Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar informed the house that the government is working to expand Prime Minister’s National Health Programme in different districts of the country.

The government has allocated Rs 8.18 billion for the programme, she said, adding that a total of 981,007 families have been enrolled in the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme so far. Out of these enrolled families a total of 15,681 individuals have been admitted in different hospitals for indoor medical treatment, she said.

She said that the programme is aiming to reach 3.06 million families living below poverty line in its focused districts.

To another question, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Darshan informed the house that AIDS patients have been treated free of cost and according to a survey, there are 17,024 registered AIDS patients all over the country and at present 8,133 patients are getting treatment.

Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the house that the government is working on number of energy projects and hoped that electricity loadshedding will be finished by the end of this year.

In PESCO, there are 85 percent losses on 190 feeders, he said, adding that transmission lines are being improved and new grid stations are installed to improve the power supply system in the country.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Amin-ul-Hasnat Shah said that the government has taken a number of steps to counter sectarian conflicts during the last four years.

A National Ulema and Mashaikh Council has been constituted for the purpose, he said, adding the council has representation from all Wifaqs, all schools of thought and all the provinces. It has been assigned the duty to promote religious harmony and to remove hate literature from the curriculum of the Madaris.

The minister said that Hajj arrangements will be further improved and more facilities to the intending pilgrims will be provided during the Hajj this year.

He said the Saudi government has restored the 20 percent quota of Pakistan, earlier reduced due to expansion of Haram, and this quota will be added in the government Hajj scheme during upcoming Hajj this year.