Punjab Livestock Department in its meeting on Wednesday has approved a project costing Rs 41.924 million for establishment of disease free zones in the province.
The zones would be established at Freozewala, District Sheikhupura, Jatoi district Muzaffargarh and Tehsil Gujrat. The meeting, which was presided over by Secretary Livestock Muhammad Athar Tahir, was attended by Director General (Extension), Livestock, concerned Director Animal Health and representatives of Services and General Administration department.
The project is aimed at developing disease free zones through preventive control measures like 100 percent free vaccination against major contagious diseases. The gestation period of project would be 24 months with vaccination target of 9,716,000 animals.The secretary further said that disease surveillance of any prevalent disease would be conducted through Veterinary Research Institute Lahore and National Veterinary Laboratory Islamabad. It would be a pilot project and will contribute to the improvement of the quality and safety of food to meet the standard of WTO.
It will also increase the efficiency of livestock production and will protect and improve the animal health. Following success of the project, it would be extended in all over the province so that milk, meat and eggs production could be enhanced.