The Punjab government has launched a comprehensive initiative to revolutionize livestock healthcare across the province by upgrading diagnostic facilities at veterinary hospitals. This ambitious program aims to ensure early detection and effective control of major animal diseases affecting Punjab's massive livestock population.
Modern Equipment for Enhanced Diagnosis
Dr Haider Ali Khan, Director at the Punjab Livestock Department, confirmed that 133 ultrasound machines will be distributed to tehsil-level veterinary hospitals covering all 41 districts of Punjab. Additionally, 10 portable X-ray machines will be supplied to divisional veterinary hospitals to significantly strengthen their diagnostic capabilities.
Dr Khan explained that veterinary hospitals and dispensaries are being upgraded in phases to improve their capacity to diagnose and manage livestock diseases more efficiently. The province currently operates 2,508 veterinary treatment facilities, including:
- 754 civil veterinary hospitals
- 1,754 civil veterinary dispensaries
- 202 mobile veterinary dispensaries
- 43 mobile veterinary laboratories
Addressing Punjab's Massive Livestock Population
According to the 7th Agricultural Census 2024, Punjab hosts the largest livestock population in Pakistan with more than 104 million animals. The breakdown includes:
- 16.9 million cattle
- 14.2 million buffaloes
- 13.3 million sheep
- 31.3 million goats
Dr Khan emphasized that the government is also equipping district and divisional hospitals with modern surgical theaters, ultrasonography units, and portable X-ray systems to improve both emergency and routine animal care services.
Boosting International Meat Exports
In a significant development, 15 Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free compartments are being established across Punjab to ensure that meat produced in the province meets international health and safety standards.
"The establishment of these FMD-free zones will not only improve livestock health but also reduce production losses," Dr Khan stated. "This strategic move will help Punjab's meat exports gain better access to food-deficient markets in the Middle East."
Expert Appreciation and Disease Management
Livestock experts have widely welcomed the initiative, noting that enhanced diagnostic capabilities will address longstanding challenges for breeders who typically depend on under-equipped treatment centers.
Dr Irshad Muhammad Khan, former professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, identified major diseases affecting bovine and small ruminants in Punjab:
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
- Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
- Hemorrhagic Septicemia
- Tick-borne illnesses
- Enterotoxemia
- Caprine Pleuropneumonia
- Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)
He confirmed that the new initiative will significantly help in managing these prevalent diseases across the province.
Veterinary specialists particularly praised the decision to establish state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratories at the district level. Dr Wasif Umair, a veterinary pathologist operating a private laboratory in Lahore, told Wealth Pakistan: "At present, the only modern public-sector diagnostic labs are at UVAS Lahore and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Most livestock farmers cannot afford private testing, which is why establishing district-level public diagnostic labs by Punjab government will help the livestock sector in a great way."
This comprehensive modernization of Punjab's livestock healthcare infrastructure represents a crucial step toward safeguarding the province's vital agricultural economy and enhancing its position in international meat markets.
