Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department has finalised the project document of 'Livestock Support Services Project-IV' worth Rs 590 million aimed at providing veterinary services to livestock farmers at Union Council level.
Departmental sources told Business Recorder here Tuesday that three phases of this project in 18 districts of the province were already under progress, while fourth phase would be launched in four more districts. 'Project document is ready and we are awaiting final approval in this regard,' the sources added.
Objective of this project, which was started in 2004, was to build an infrastructure at Union Council level throughout the province providing veterinary services to the farmers at their doorstep.
First phase was started as model project in Sahiwal, Okara, Jhang and Muzaffargarh had been completed and its evaluation was under progress through various institutions such as Planning and Development Board (P&D) or Punjab Economic Research Institute (PERI).
The second phase was launched in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Chakwal, D G Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts and 60 percent work on this project had been completed, the sources added. Third phase was launched in Kasur, Pakpattan, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Layyah, Rawalpindi and Nankana Sahib Districts where only 25 percent work had been completed.
While the next phase had been planned for Faisalabad, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur districts, the sources said and added that they were awaiting the evaluation of first phase and maximum completion of rest of the two phases. Under these projects, the department had planned to build a dispensary in each Union Council having one veterinary officer, one veterinary assistant, one artificial insemination technician, basic equipment for treatment and medicines to take care of large animal population of the province, the sources claimed.
They said that veterinary officers were also being provided motorcycles under this project so they could reach to the livestock farmers as it was very difficult to bring big animals to hospitals or veterinary centres in case they fell ill. Besides this mobile dispensaries were also being set up under the same project while veterinary hospitals present at Tehsil level were being upgraded.
Meanwhile, according to a spokesman of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, there are 528 veterinary hospitals, 1223 dispensaries, 1920 veterinary centres and 96 mobile dispensaries working under the department in the province.
While 26 laboratories were also working for diagnosis of diseases among animals. The spokesman said that livestock farmers were being provided free of cost advice for the promotion of this sector while projects were being devised under private-public partnership so as to improve production of milk and meat in the province.