Army-backed SIFC signs agreement with Saudi Arabia to cultivate 5,000 acres of cattle fodder

Pakistan Army-backed investment body Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Najd Gateway Holding Company to “cultivate 5,000 acres of alfalfa cattle fodder”.

Pakistan set up the SIFC, a hybrid civil-military forum, in June last year to attract international investment, particularly from Gulf countries, in its key economic sectors. 

Fodder is a major source of protein for livestock and is also a staple diet for dairy cattle, cow, sheep, goats, horses, and other domestic animals.

Under the agreement, the cultivated fodder would be exported to countries with a shortage of livestock protein.

"Pakistani soil has great potential for breeding high-quality livestock products with high nutritional and protein content. This crop is cultivated in many countries of the world and is considered as a fodder crop of great importance," the statement from Radio Pakistan read.

In September last year, Former interim prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said Saudi Arabia and the UAE would invest $25 billion each in Pakistan in the next two to five years.

However, this project is an initiation of the investment pledged by the Gulf countries.