The DAIRY
sector in Pakistan plays a significant role in the national economy
with the value of the milk sector being more than that of the wheat
and cotton sectors combined. The estimated annual milk production
(2001-2002) was approximately 28 million tonnes making Pakistan
one of the world’s top milk producers.
Buffaloes (67 percent) and cattle (30 percent) are the most important
milk animals with small ruminants being of minor importance.
Countrywide Milk Production
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The provinces of Punjab and Sindh produce 50 percent and almost
38 percent of the total national milk production, respectively.
Some 95 percent of all milk is produced from small-scale rural and
peri-urban holdings with 2-3 milking animals. There is a small commercial
dairy sector around the major cities, especially Karachi which is
expected to grow, but for the foreseeable future small-scale producer
will dominate the sector. Over 90 percent of the marketed milk is
collected and distributed unprocessed through the informal market
by traders and adulteration of the milk by them with water, chemicals
and drugs is reported to be widespread.
