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Cattle disease eradication program at Rs 1.4 bln

KARACHI-Food and Agriculture Minister Khair Mohammad Jonejo said on Jan 26, 2002 that the government has started a vast programme for eradication of major diseases from cow and buffaloes including "made cow" and "foot and mouth" diseases at
a cost of Rs 1.40 billion in the country.

He was speaking at the inauguration of animal quarantine houses of Department of Plant Protection (DPP) at National Highway. He pointed out that the government will further enhance its disease eradication programme.

He said cattle including goats, lambs, cow and buffaloes will be vaccinated to remove disease like cattle plague, foot and mouth, mad cow, PPR, etc. He pointed out that Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has rovided a grant of $ 240,000 and has advised Pakistan to take effective measures in this regard.

Referring to the establishment quarantines houses in Karachi, Jonejo said that more such houses will be developed in the country and the capacity of animal quarantine houses in Karachi will be further enhanced to facilitate animal and meat exports.

He said a state-of-the-art quarantine laboratory will be functional in Islamabad in next three months at a cost of Rs 153 million. He stated that the government was now focusing on livestock sector as it was contributing 9 percent to the total GDP while 39
percent of the total agriculture production was coming from this sector. It was pointed out by the Director DPP Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan pointed out that his department has requested the government to provide Rs 34 million for expansion of animal quarantine houses.

The minister directed the department to further improve their quarantine facilities and make it at par with international standards before the arrival of Saudi delegation which is coming to Pakistan on February 9, to inspect the quarantine facilities.

It may be noted that UAE and Saudi Arabia has imposed ban on Pakistani meat a year ago on quarantine grounds.The minister hoped that Saudis and UAE governments will remove this ban on Pakistan meat and animals after finding better quarantine facilities, modern slaughter houses in the country. He said there was a bright scope for increasing the export of livestock and meat from Pakistan to Middle East and Gulf countries if quarantine facilities are improved in the country.

He also suggested private exporters of meat and live animals to construct more modern slaughter houses for producing high quality meat for export purposes. Earlier, DPP director Saleem Khan said that several quarantine offices have been set up at all exit and entry points for exports and imports in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot, etc. He said the department was issuing quarantine certificates for
the export and import of animals and animal products. The animal quarantine house at Karachi will provide space for  300 large animal and 900 small animals.
 
January  27, 2002