Pakistan Dairy Association hosted a one-day seminar in Islamabad on Wednesday at a local hotel.
The seminar aimed at gathering all the relevant stakeholders at one place to share their expertise and reach a consensus to uplift the dairy industry. Moreover, the seminar also served as a platform to talk about legislations to control the provision of unsafe milk in consumer markets. The event was opened by Syed Yawar Ali, Chairman Nestle Pakistan. The seminar was chaired by Mehboob Sultan, Federal Minister for Food Security and Research. Stakeholders from government of Pakistan, dairy industry, regulatory bodies and media attended the event among international guests and speakers from IFCN, WHO, International Dairy Federation and Turkey. The speakers shared varied insights and facts on dairy industry in their respective markets.
The event also saw the launch of the second edition of Economic Impact Report, an independent study conducted by LUMS, which covers the economic impact of Pakistan’s dairy sector. The dairy sector of Pakistan has become one of the most vibrant and strategic sectors with a major impact on the national economy, public health and the environment.
While expressing his views, Chairman Pakistan Dairy Association Sulaiman Monnoo said, “Currently Pakistan is amongst the five largest dairy producing countries in the world, yet unfortunately 95% of the milk traded in Pakistan is sold as loose milk most of which is unhygienic or adulterated and is not providing our masses with the required nutrition they need resulting in problems such as malnutrition and stunted growth as highlighted by the prime minister in his inaugural address.”
“The Punjab government is taking a very positive step by introducing a minimum pasteurization law to ensure that all the milk being produced is free of adulterants and harmful bacteria and complies with certain minimum nutritional standards that make it fit for consumption,” he added.