As many as 68,700 applications have been received from widows and divorced women seeking free cows and buffaloes under the Punjab Chief Minister’s initiative aimed at economically empowering women and promoting the livestock sector. The director highlighted the Chief Minister’s flagship initiative to empower widowed and divorced women in South Punjab by providing livestock free of cost as 68,700 applications have been received so far.
According to media reports, Director Livestock, Rawalpindi Division, Dr Naveed Sahar Zaidi, said that all applications are currently undergoing the verification process. Following verification, eligible applicants will be provided livestock under the government’s ongoing scheme. Under the Livestock Card scheme, 14,653,377 applications have reportedly been received so far, of which 69,282 have been rejected, while the remaining applications are under process. During the verification phase, 135,847 applications were approved, 10,241 were rejected, and 445 are still pending.
Of the 96,258 applications received in another phase, 13,869 were approved, 23,224 were rejected, and 59,165 are still pending. Meanwhile, the registration of farmers and livestock is currently underway. NADRA has completed its scrutiny of a significant number of applications, with 135,847 applications approved, 10,241 rejected, and 445 still under review.
Of the applications cleared by NADRA, the Bank of Punjab has completed its Stage-I assessment of 96,258 applications, approving them for further processing. Meanwhile, 35,817 applications were rejected, while 3,772 remain under review. The livestock verification teams have also made progress, clearing 13,869 applications after field inspections. However, 23,224 applications were rejected, while 59,165 applications are still undergoing field verification.
The applications cleared during the field verification stage have now moved to Stage-II scrutiny by the Bank of Punjab. Applicants are also required to complete mandatory registration of farmers and livestock through the Punjab Animal Identification and Traceability System. The director said livestock department staff across the Rawalpindi Division are actively carrying out field inspections, application verification and other administrative responsibilities.