- Title: PAKISTAN-CAMEL MILK Pakistanis take to camel milk for health benefits
- Date: 18th August 2015
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) GIRL WALKING CAMELS CAMEL TETHERED BY ROADSIDE / TRAFFIC ON STREET CAMEL CHEWING CAMEL / CUSTOMERS TALKING TO MILK SELLER GIRL LEADING FEMALE CAMEL AWAY AS CALF APPROACHES FOR MILK VARIOUS OF WOMAN MILKING CAMEL VARIOUS OF WOMAN POURING MILK FROM BUCKET INTO STEEL MUG VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS TASTING MILK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CUSTOMER, SYED QAISER ALI, SAYING: "It (camel milk) has healing properties. It is very good. Everyone should drink it. It has no foul odour. I drank it for the first time today. Initially, I hesitated a bit but it was like normal milk (cow milk)." MILK SELLER FEEDING GRASS TO CAMEL (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MILK SELLER, MOHAMMAD ASLAM, SAYING: "This milk contains excellent healing characteristics. This is beneficial in diabetes, joint pain, black and yellow jaundice. It is good for stomach and liver diseases and also the other diseases." VARIOUS OF ASLAM'S WIFE, ZAINAB, MILKING CAMEL VARIOUS OF ZAINAB POURING MILK INTO PLASTIC BAGS FOR CUSTOMER CLOSE OF CAMEL'S MOUTH CUSTOMER ON MOTORBIKE EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL SIGN READING (English): "SANA AZFAR, CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST" AZFAR SITTING AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST, SANA AZFAR, SAYING: "It is the only animal-milk that is very close to human milk. The iron content in this milk is ten times more than in cow's milk and vitamin C is around three times more than cow's milk. Apart from this, the most important thing we see in camel milk is its immune system. Camel milk has a very strong immune system that is why the ones, who consume it, get a strong immune system as a result. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory effects that can prevent people from different types of cancers, especially colon cancer. Colon cancer is widespread nowadays. It has been observed and we have learnt from research that the ones who consume camel milk regularly, their colon cancers are treated." CUSTOMERS AT SHOP SELLING CAMEL MILK AND HONEY SHOPKEEPER HANDING BAG TO CUSTOMER (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CUSTOMER, NOOR NABI SHAH, SAYING: "I was suffering from a liver problem. It really benefited me. My liver was in bad condition but now it has started functioning properly. I went through laboratory tests. The reports are clear now." YOUNG MEN BUYING CAMEL MILK LAHORE, PAKISTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) CAMELS GRAZING VARIOUS OF MAN MILKING CAMEL FAMILY SELLING CAMEL MILK VARIOUS OF WOMAN POURING MILK INTO BOTTLE BUCKETS AND MUGS HANGING NEAR MAKESHIFT HUTS / CAMELS ROAMING AROUND
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAB2JYH3PB2GN6TJMCZJXO8E84T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Camel milk has become a popular alternative to milk in Pakistan, with health benefits being touted as a major factor in its popularity.
Camel milk has been used medicinally for centuries by nomadic people. Now, it is pulling many rural families to the cities to sell camel milk to the suburban population.
In recent years, research has shown camel milk is packed with vitamins, minerals and is said to be a great source of insulin for diabetes sufferers.
"It (camel milk) has healing properties. It is very good. Everyone should drink it. It has no foul odour. I drank it for the first time today. Initially, I hesitated a bit but it was like normal milk (cow milk)," said Syed Qaiser Ali, as he tasted the product at a roadside vendor's.
Other take it home where they prefer to boil and drink it.
Consumers say the milk is less fatty than cow's milk and sometimes slightly saltier.
Mohammad Aslam and his family have been selling camel milk for the past year by the roadside in Pakistan's largest city Karachi, where he moved from a village to earn better money.
"This milk contains excellent healing characteristics. This is beneficial in diabetes, joints pain, black and yellow jaundice. It is good for stomach and liver diseases and also the other diseases," Aslam said.
He says he sells the milk at 200 rupees ($2) a litre.
The milk is now being recommended to diabetic and hepatitis patients.
Nutritionist Sana Azfar said there was a lot more to camel milk.
"It is the only animal-milk that is very close to human milk. The iron content in this milk is ten times more than in cow's milk and vitamin C is around three times more than cow's milk. Apart from this, the most important thing we see in camel milk is its immune system. Camel milk has a very strong immune system that is why the ones, who consume it, get a strong immune system as a result," she said.
"It has anti-inflammatory effects that can prevent people from different types of cancers, especially colon cancer. Colon cancer is widespread nowadays. It has been observed and we have learnt from research that the ones who consume camel milk regularly, their colon cancers are treated," Azfar said.
Nomadic Bedouins have relied on camel milk as a staple for centuries; today Somalia and Saudi Arabia are the biggest producers.
Milk producers are now developing markets in countries such as Kenya, Australia and the United States.
Karachi has found itself at the centre of the trend.
Vendors range from small stalls to a family operation offering flavours such as chocolate, banana and strawberry camel milk. Some even accept internet orders.
Some consumers say it has vastly improved their health.
"I was suffering from a liver problem. It really benefited me. My liver was in bad condition but now it has started functioning properly. I went through laboratory tests. The reports are clear now," said Noor Nabi Shah.
Camels are known for their ability to survive and produce milk even under the harshest desert conditions. Researchers estimate that Pakistan has fewer than 1 million of the humped animals.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has noted the commercial value of camel dairy products, saying they could provide nomadic herders "a rich source of income." The organisation estimates a potential world market of 10 billion U.S. dollars for the product.
In addition to Karachi, camel-milk consumption is catching on elsewhere in Pakistan, in big cities such as Lahore and capital, Islamabad.
In Lahore, the second largest city, a series of makeshift settlements set up by nomadic clans are attracting a lot of attention.
Headed by a woman, the clans comprise one or two men, children and a few camels and their calves.
Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of milk in the world behind India, China and the United States, according to Economy survey of Pakistan.
Over 10 million farming families are producing over 52 billion litres of buffalo, cattle, sheep, goat and camel milk annually.
Pakistan Diary Association said the figures for camel milk consumption alone were not available but its share in overall diary was small at this stage.
Of the estimated 18.58 million camels the world over, about one million are reared in the desert areas of Pakistan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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