FAO, ministry discuss animal disease surveillance system

ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Ministry of National Food Security and Research at a workshop in Islamabad shared findings of an assessment of Pakistan’s existing animal disease surveillance system and gave recommendations.

The workshop was organized under the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) which aims to improve the animal disease surveillance system and establish a real-time animal disease reporting system in the Pakistan.

Highlighting the importance of a comprehensive regulatory framework alongside the disease surveillance system, Dr Khalid Ashfaq, animal husbandry commissioner, said the ministry had developed a draft National Animal Health Act aligned with World Organization for animal health guidelines. Once approved, this will be the first national level document related to animal health legislation in Pakistan, he added.

FAO Deputy Representative in Pakistan Farrukh Toirov said there is a huge disparity between livestock sector’s potential and the resources allocated to it in Pakistan. To unlock the potential of the sector, we need to improve the animal disease surveillance system and establish a real-time animal disease reporting system. Together with ministry and other stakeholders, we aim to address this issue through this TCP.

Emphasizing the importance of the feasibility study which is expected to be completed within the project tenure, Muhammad Afzal, Project Coordinator said that establishing a robust animal disease surveillance system in Pakistan is crucial, as the country struggles to meet its local per capita requirements and currently earns only USD 350 million annually in livestock exports.

With the majority of livestock farmers living at a subsistence level, the Ministry of National Food Security & Research recognizes the immense challenge and aims to enhance livestock productivity and add value to the sector.

The workshop served as a platform for knowledge and idea-sharing among participants, concluding with a commitment from all stakeholders to foster collaboration and develop an effective and implementable animal disease surveillance system in Pakistan.