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News: Government is Determined to Improve the Magnitude and Quality of Veterinary Services in Pakistan
Posted by: JimEdwards on Apr 29, 2008 - 09:18 PM
WVDay
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 WORLD VETERINARY DAY-2008 Message from Dr. R.H.Usmani, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, M/O Food, Agriculture & Livestock, Government of Pakistan
The animal health services in the country are continuously developed to cater the need of livestock farmers at gross root level. These services include extension, prophylaxis, treatment and diseases monitoring services. Their main focus have been on identification of the prevalent livestock diseases, carrying out treatment and routine vaccination during normal and epidemic conditions in order to assist in controlling, confining and eradication of livestock diseases from the country. The population growth, urbanization and increasing demand of livestock and livestock products have created more pressing need for improved veterinary and allied services through better diagnostic facilities, increased vaccine production and better health coverage to protect the local livestock population. The veterinary services can be classified into Federal level quarantine, policy and development related services, Provincial level animal health and production extension services and veterinary education services in the country.
At the Federal level, the Livestock Wing of the Ministry of Food Agriculture & Livestock formulates national policies, plans, coordinate/liaison with the Provincial / International organizations such as O.I.E Head / Regional Offices, WHO, regulates animal quarantine and inspection services, assists M/O Health in registration of veterinary drugs & biologics; collection and compilation of livestock statistics for planning national level development programs/projects for the livestock sector.
Animal Quarantine Department of the M/O Food, Agriculture & Livestock, regulates the import /export of livestock and livestock products through Pakistan Animal Quarantine (Import & Export of Animals and Animal Products) Ordinance, 1979 and Rules 1980. It observes WTO, European Union and trading-partners conditionalities during export of products of animal origin. Animal Quarantine Stations are located at entry and exit points of airports and seaports, ie. Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Sialkot. These stations have attached laboratory facilities to conduct basic microbiological diagnostic tests. The quarantine department provides Central Certification Services to importers / exporters of livestock and livestock products.
Animal Quarantine Department is involved in registration of slaughterhouses, animal casing and gelatin processing units for export of these commodities. It registers these units in the light of international requirements and carries out regular inspection for pointing out their deficiencies and their rectification to produce livestock products under standard sanitary and hygiene conditions to minimize the chances of contamination in export consignments.
National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad serves as Reference Laboratory for the diagnosis / research of livestock diseases prevalent in the country. It is also quality assurance laboratory for the export of livestock and livestock products. It provides diagnostic facilities for livestock diseases, carry out sero typing and bio typing of viruses; harmonizes disease diagnostic protocol of Provincial Veterinary Research Institute in conformity with Office International des Epizooties (OIE). It conducts tests for quality assurance for imported / exported and locally produced veterinary vaccines . It carries out drug residue testing on request in food items of animal origin. The veterinary drugs / biologicals are evaluated for their safety, potency and efficacy. It is playing a vital role in human resource development and capacity building. It arranges short term courses of national and international levels regarding new diagnostic techniques and emerging livestock diseases. It also works in close association with the provincial livestock services in analyzing, monitoring, planning and formulation of disease control and eradication programs.
The National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases (NRLPD) located at the NARC Islamabad provides diagnostic facilities for poultry diseases, carries out research on local virus isolates and harmonizes disease diagnostic protocol of VRIs/PRIs in conformity with OIE. It is also playing a vital role in human resource development and capacity building. It arranges short term courses of national and international levels regarding new diagnostic techniques and emerging poultry diseases like Avian Influenza. The NRLPD also works in close association with the provincial livestock services in analyzing, monitoring, planning and formulation of disease control and eradication programs.
Provincial livestock departments are the executing agencies and focal points for all the livestock activities in the provinces. The provincial livestock departments are divided into Extension Directorate, Breed Improvement Directorate, Animal Health Directorate, Livestock Farm Directorate, Planning Department and Research Directorates. These directorates function in their defined spheres through a net work of field offices at gross root level. The Federal and Provincial veterinary authorities interact with each other periodically.
Provincial livestock departments have their own set ups generally comprising of Senior level Administrative Staff (DGs/Directors/Project Directors), District level Administrative Staff (DLOs/DDs/Ads), Field Veterinary Officers (V.O) and para-veterinary staff like Livestock Assistants/SA, AI Technicians and Veterinary Compounders etc. Currently, there are 5 DGs and 31 Directors/Project Directors working in provincial Livestock Departments in the country. The district level administrative staff consists of 89 DLOs/DDs and 198 SVOs/ADs. Nearly 2300 field Veterinary Officers are working in different provinces/areas of the country. These field veterinary officers are supported by more than 5400 para-veterinary staff.
Feral Govt. Initiatives for Strengthening Livestock Services
Govt. policy is aimed at private sector led development of livestock. Federal Government acts as catalyst in the development of livestock in the country. In order to ensure private sector led development of livestock sector, Government has established private sector-led company namely "Livestock and Dairy Development Board". It has been established under Agri. Business and Diversification Project in order to provide impetus to livestock growth as set in the Medium Term Development Frame Work (MTDF) and to ensure a regulated private sector led development of livestock. It is registered under Company's Act with Securities Exchange Commission, Islamabad. The Board activities are aimed at providing technical services, financial assistance (Max. 15%) for the infrastructure development at farm level, slaughterhouses, butcheries, feed lot fattening units etc. and create linkages among meat producers and processors for sustainable meat production. The LDDB is also assisting the small and medium scale dairy farmers in the establishment of Milk Producers Groups, provision of Milk Cooling Tanks at village/union council level, providing training to farmers and progressive livestock breeders and helping provincial livestock breed improvement programs to enhance their capacity for production of progeny tested breeding bulls in Punjab and Sindh.
Government of Pakistan has initiated number of focused programs to improve and strengthen livestock services in the country. They are as under:
Strengthening of Livestock Services Project (SLSP) is European Union-Government of Pakistan funded project with total cost of Rs. 1992.51 million. The project started in September 2003 in the four provinces, AJK and Northern areas and is for 6 years. It is aimed to eradicate Rinderpest disease from the country, enhance efficiency and effectiveness of veterinary health services to achieve full prophylactic coverage, consolidate and strengthen the epidemiological units for realizing systematic disease investigation and reporting system, strengthen disease diagnostic services especially for identification of viral strains and strengthen and expand veterinary vaccine production in the country. Federal Govt. under SLSP have provided mobility to veterinary staff of Provincial livestock departments to carry out field duties, Developed models of service delivery; PPR vaccine production introduced in the country, Legal framework reviewed. On account of project activities, Pakistan got Rinderpest disease and infection freedom status dually recognized by World animal Health Organization.
Prime Minister's Special Initiative for Livestock has started in December 2005 at a total cost of Rs. 1696.4 million. The project is of 05 years duration. The project is under implementation in collaboration with MINFAL, Provincial Livestock Departments and Eight Rural Support Programs (RSP). It is aimed at enhancing the livestock productivity through the provision of livestock production and extension services at farmer's doorsteps, involving rural community and encouraging establishment of community organizations and private veterinary clinics. The project is targeting 13 million rural poor in 1963 union councils in 80 districts of the country. It will employ and train 290 veterinarians and 29 District Livestock Officers and would create/make 7,250 "self employed Community Livestock Extension Workers (CLEWs). Its activities will assist in the production of additional milk and meat to the tune of 12 million liters and 0.2 million tons per annum respectively, after the completion of the project. The project has signed MOU with 08 Rural Support Programs, hired 206 Vets and established clinics, 572 Community Livestock Extension Workers are selected and trained. In Balochistan, 130 community organizations formed with total membership of 2185.
Up-gradation and Establishment of Animal Quarantine Stations in Pakistan: The project has been initiated at total cost of Rs. 336.085 million in July 2006. It is of five years duration. This project has been designed to make-up the deficiencies at the existing Quarantine Stations to provide facilities like detection of drug residues in animal products, dispensary, post-mortem, incineration, quarantining of animals, birds, pets and animal products etc. The establishment of new entry / exit points will facilitate trade of animal and animal products. Two new Animal Quarantine Stations (AQS) have been established at Khanjrab and Khokhrapar and three AQS at Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad have been strengthened/up-graded in terms of equipment and staff.
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