PESHAWAR
\nAt a time when many educated young Pakistanis continue to pursue the increasingly elusive dream of a government job, 30-year-old Ibrahim Khan from Mohib Banda village in Nowshera district chose a different path which is rooted in hard work, and opportunity.
\nNestled along the scenic banks of the River Kabul, Ibrahim\u2019s modest two-acre livestock farm today stands as a symbol of self-reliance and rural prosperity.
\n\u201cI remained jobless for almost five years after completing my post-graduation,\u201d Ibrahim recalled with a smile while talking to APP.
\nWatering his buffalos and cows with water pumps, he said, \u201cOn the advice of my late father, Sardar Khan who even sold a small piece of land to support me\u2014I decided to invest in livestock farming. Since then, I have never looked back.\u201d
\nWhat began as a leap of faith has evolved into a thriving cattle business. Ibrahim now supplies fresh milk to various parts of Peshawar, earns a stable income for his family, and provides employment to five local workers which is an achievement he once thought impossible.
\nHis success story reflects the untapped potential of livestock entrepreneurship in Pakistan\u2019s rural and peri-urban areas, particularly when aligned with focused government support.
\nGovernment-Led Transformation
\nIbrahim\u2019s journey is not an isolated one. Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a quiet transformation is underway, driven by the Federal Government\u2019s strategic investment in the livestock and dairy sectors under the National Agriculture Programme\u2014a massive Rs309.7 billion initiative aimed at boosting food security, reducing poverty, and generating employment.
\nIn KP alone, three flagship projects have played a pivotal role in strengthening meat and milk production while uplifting marginalized communities. These include the Save the Calf Project (Rs1,554 million), Feedlot Fattening Programme (Rs826 million), and Poverty Alleviation through Development of Rural Poultry (Rs834 million).
\nTogether, these initiatives are providing farmers across all 35 districts of the province including the newly merged tribal areas with vital support ranging from cash incentives and free vaccines to technical training and farm equipment.
\nAmong these initiatives, Dr Aftab Ahmad, Director Livestock said that the Save the Calf Project has emerged as a game-changer for KP\u2019s meat sector.
\nThe project has successfully fattened around 120,000 male buffalo calves, helping stabilize meat supply and prices across the province.
\nUnder the program, he said farmers receive Rs6,500 per calf after six months of rearing, along with 10 kilograms of milk replacer and essential vaccinations. Nearly 30,000 calves are fattened annually, with eligibility open to animals aged between 15 days and one month.
\nThe project funded jointly by the KP Government (Rs1,243 million) and the Federal Government (Rs135 million) has witnessed strong participation. Farmers registering at least 15 calves are also provided fodder choppers, free training, and Rs4,000 per animal upon completing a successful three-month fattening cycle.
\nBeyond cattle farming, the National Poultry Project is transforming lives at the household level, particularly for rural women.
\nShageef Bibi, a 52-year-old mother of four from Nowshera, is one such beneficiary. She received poultry birds from the Livestock and Dairy Development Department under the government\u2019s initiative and now runs a small but profitable venture from the rooftop of her 10-marla home.
\n\u201cOut of 10 hens, I get about eight eggs daily,\u201d she told APP. \u201cWe consume three at home and sell the rest at Rs35 per egg.\u201d
\nWith virtually no feeding costs, the income supports her retired husband, helps cover household expenses, and ensures her children\u2019s education. In addition to poultry, Shageef also rears a cow, further strengthening her family\u2019s financial stability.
\nStories like those of Ibrahim Khan and Shageef Bibi highlight how targeted investment in livestock and poultry farming can unlock economic opportunities, reduce unemployment, and empower communities especially youth and women in rural Pakistan.
\nAs these initiatives continue to expand, livestock farming is fast emerging not just as a livelihood, but as a sustainable gateway to prosperity for thousands jobless across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR At a time when many educated young Pakistanis continue to pursue the increasingly elusive dream of a government job, 30-year-old Ibrahim Khan from Mohib Banda village in Nowshera district chose a different path which is rooted in hard work, and opportunity. Nestled along the scenic banks of the River Kabul, Ibrahim\u2019s modest two-acre livestock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-528915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n