Terming the Sheep, Sheep Products and allied Live-Stock as back-bone of the rural economy, the Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today said that this sector is playing a vital role in changing the socio economic condition of 80% population of ruralities of the State.The Minister, who is also the Chairman of Sheep and Sheep Products Development Board popularly known as Wool Board said this after inspecting office-cum-godown of the Board at Nowshera today.Legislator Aga Syed Ahmad Rizvi and Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Mr. Ghulam Rasool Naqvi accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Gurezi said that State government is committed to eradicate poverty from the face of the society, especially from the far flung, remote and hilly areas and with this aim the Wool Board was set up in the State in 1981.The Minister said that 40 lakh people of the State are directly involved in the rearing live-stock, adding that with the aim to secure their future the Government initiated measures to revive the Wool Board last year which has yielded positive results. He said the revival plan will continue and government will provide all facilities required for the upliftment of the people engaged in live-stock breeding.Stressing upon the management of the Board for organising a campaign of mass awareness among the people about the benefits of sheep and sheep products, the Minister emphasised for usage of local made woollen items instead of synthetic items to benefit the people connected with the trade and also to avoid various diseases. He said this will not only help in promotion of local wool only but a large number of people will earn their livelihood with dignity and honour.
The Minister was informed that the Wool Board has sold 1. 39 lac kg wool last year and accordingly earned a whooping amount of Rs 1.24 cr in the State. He was informed that the Board has set a target to earn an amount of Rs 6. 83 cr by selling 7.36 lac kg wool this year, out of which 73500 lac kg wool has been sold so far, while as booking of 76500 lac kgs has been recorded. There are 2.75 lac kgs wool in stock in the godowns of the Board at present the meeting was informed.
The meeting was informed that the wool is procured mainly from the Gujjar and Bakerwal and from the people living in the hilly areas without engaging middleman at the rate of Rs 81/- per kg which was earlier Rs 55/- only in 2011-12.The Minister was informed that the Board has manufactured 1800 woollen blankets, each costing Rs 900,ready for sale.
On this occasion, Managing Director, Wool Board Dr. Goutam presented a detailed resume of the activities of the Board.
Later, the President of the employees Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani submitted a charter of demands to the Minister. The Minister assured the employees that their genuine demands will be looked into sympathically.Besides General Manager, Wool Board Dr. Tufail Ahmad, Manager Ghulam Muhammad Dar, the employees and large number of people was present on the occasion.