High-Level Meeting Reviews National Program for Animal Disease Surveillance and Collaboration for FMD Control
A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain regarding the National Program for Animal Disease Surveillance, control of foot-and-mouth disease, PPR and other diseases, and adaptation of the animal identification and traceability system in accordance with international standards. It especially focused on the Federal and Provincial Collaboration for FMD Control in Pakistan.
Provincial Minister for Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani specially attended the meeting. Representatives of other provinces and officials of the Green Corporate Livestock Initiative also attended the meeting.
The meeting focused on the steps taken for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease, along with progress made and future strategies.
Review of National Program Progress
The meeting reviewed various issues, including the progress of the provinces under the national program, disease surveillance, animal registration and PAITS, control of foot-and-mouth disease, laboratory networking, diagnostic capacity, vaccine requirements, and the establishment of disease-free zones and compartments.
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The meeting agreed to make mutual consultation, technical cooperation, and information exchange between provincial and federal institutions more effective for the control of foot-and-mouth disease. In this regard, the need to work together on disease surveillance, vaccination, diagnostic facilities, legal framework, and other necessary technical and administrative reforms was emphasized.
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Punjab Government and Collaboration for FMD Control in Pakistan
Secretary Livestock Punjab Ahmed Aziz Tarar, Additional Secretary Technical Dr. Usman Tahir, Director General Research Dr. Sajjad Hussain, Director General Extension Dr. Syed Nadeem Badar, Director Communication Dr. Khaliq Shafi, and other relevant officials and experts participated in the meeting online.
Provincial Minister for Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the disease surveillance process is underway for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease in Punjab, while a consultant has also been hired to review the feasibility of the project.
He said that Punjab will be able to acquire the capacity to manufacture 80 million doses of its own vaccine for the control of foot-and-mouth disease. The 15 disease-free compartments established by the government are functioning effectively. The project has now entered its second year.
Punjab Collaboration for FMD Control in Pakistan
The Provincial Minister for Livestock further informed that the Punjab government’s plan to become part of the federal government’s program for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease and PPR is with the cabinet.
He said that the Punjab government is sincerely trying to implement the recommendations suggested by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The Punjab government has allotted different districts to meat exporters for the export of 450,000 animals and their meat, while various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have also been signed in this regard.
Disease-Free Zones and Export Opportunities
It was informed in the meeting that the Punjab government intends to establish a disease-free zone in the area of Bahawalnagar district.
The participants also considered that if a disease-free zone is established in the area of Abdul Hakeem Kabirwala, there may be further opportunities for improvement in meat exports.
Importance of Collaboration for FMD Control in Pakistan
At the end of the meeting, the participants expressed their determination to further strengthen mutual cooperation between the federal government and the provincial governments for effective control of foot-and-mouth disease, establishment of a world-class disease-free system, and the promotion of exports of livestock products.
