Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has digitally inaugurated Livestock Card Phase-II by swiping the card, it was reported on Wednesday.
A special documentary regarding the Livestock Department was screened at the event.
Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the 96 percent recovery rate of Livestock Card Phase-I.
Livestock Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Livestock Secretary Ahmed Aziz Tarar provided a detailed briefing on the Livestock Card scheme.
According to briefing, farmers will receive Rs27,000 per animal through the Livestock Card.
Inputs such as cattle feed (wanda), silage, and mineral mixtures can be obtained on interest-free credit via the Livestock Card.
The target of increasing meat production through balanced nutrition for 600,000 livestock over two years will be achieved via Livestock Card Phase-II.
Farmers will receive interest-free loans totaling Rs16.20 billion through Livestock Card Phase II.
Livestock farmers will repay the principal amount, while the Punjab government will bear the interest cost.
Free livestock tagging and anti-FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) vaccination will also be facilitated through the Livestock Card.
Livestock farmers will be able to withdraw 25 percent of the interest-free loan amount as cash from ATMs.
Free anti-Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccination for livestock will also be provided through the Livestock Card.
As many as 23,000 farmers have been directly connected to meat exporters via the Livestock Connect Portal.
The Punjab government has signed MoUs with eight major exporters for meat exports.
MoUs for meat exports to China, Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and European markets have been signed through PAMCO.
For the first time in Punjab, the number of female farmers has risen from 90 to 1,107 thanks to the Livestock Card.
Animal exports from Punjab have increased by 43 percent.
Meat exports from Punjab increased by $96 million in one year due to the Livestock Card.
As many as 23,312 Livestock Cards have been prepared for farmers in Punjab while 1,739 farmers have conducted over 70,000 transactions using the Livestock Card.
Livestock farmers can self-register for the card via the online portal.
Livestock farmers spent funds on 20 million units of minerals, 8.7 million units of silage, and Rs892.6 million on animal feed (wanda).
A 24/7 helpline (080009211) has been established for livestock farmers.
