Government Livestock Departments in Pakistan
Government Livestock Departments in Pakistan operate at various levels to manage, regulate, and develop Pakistan’s livestock and poultry sector. As veterinary departments in Pakistan, these departments also maintain animal health and public health under one health umbrella. These Livestock and Dairy Development Departments are working both at federal level and provincial.
Federal and provincial livestock departments in Pakistan play complementary roles in strengthening the country’s livestock sector. While the federal level provides strategic guidance, policy direction, and international coordination, the provincial departments are responsible for implementing these policies on the ground. Together, they work to enhance animal health, increase productivity, ensure food safety, and contribute to national economic growth.
Role of Livestock and Dairy Development Departments
At the federal level, these departments are responsible for national-level policy-making, research direction, and international representation. Federal veterinary departments support research and development by collaborating with national and provincial institutions. They also facilitate the export of livestock and animal products by ensuring compliance with global health and safety standards.
Following the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, livestock has become a provincial subject, which means the responsibility for implementation and development now rests with provincial governments. Each province has its own Livestock and Dairy Development Department.
These Livestock and Dairy Development departments are directly involved in field-level operations and provide essential services such as veterinary care, artificial insemination, vaccination programs, and farmer education. They also help other departments to oversee the regulation of livestock markets, and the enforcement of food safety standards in meat and dairy production. The management of veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and research stations is also carried out by these veterinary departments. Provincial Livestock and Dairy Development Departments collect data for livestock censuses and implement breeding programs aimed at improving animal genetics and productivity.
These Government Livestock Departments play a primary role in promoting modern husbandry practices, supporting livestock farmers with extension services at the provincial level.
Federal Livestock Departments in Pakistan
At the federal level, the livestock, poultry, and veterinary health sector falls under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The Livestock Wing, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Animal Quarantine Department, National Veterinary Laboratory, Animal Sciences Institute, PARC, and other departments are working under this ministry. These departments are responsible for research, policy-making, and coordination among the provinces. These departments also coordinate with international organizations representing the veterinary health sector of Pakistan.
Provincial Livestock Departments
All provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir have Livestock and Dairy Development Departments. The veterinary departments directly provide animal health care services to livestock, poultry, and other animals. These departments have research wing, production wing, and extension wing. Vaccination, medication, livestock extension and farmers training, breed improvement, vaccine development, research and development, and dairy development are the primary responsibilities of the departments. These departments are also involved in regulatory affairs at different levels.
