Thanking ceremony to FAO for Edouard Souma Award 2018-19 was held here at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) on Tuesday. The Federal Minister thanked FAO for honoring and acknowledging Pakistan's efforts to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The FAO has awarded the Ministry of NFS&R with Edouard Souma Award 2018-19 on development of National Control Program for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Pakistan under the FAO Technical Cooperation Program (TCP), says a press release issued here.
The FMD is the most prevalent and economically important infectious disease of livestock in this land of ours. The FAO TCP addressed government request to translate FMD control strategy into a national control program. The TCP initiated critical activities to implement the program including mass vaccination with matching stains. A National FMD Control Program project document was also prepared under the TCP in consultation with all the stakeholders. The Planning Commission of Pakistan approved the project which is the part of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of Pakistan.
The Ministry of NFS&R will implement this program with the FAO cooperation. The government of Punjab has launched the UTF project with the FAO for the control of FMD and PPR in the selected areas of the province. The country aims at achieving its FMD control program endorsed by the OIE this year and to get PCP stage-three in the next three years. This can open up additional export markets for Pakistani meat.
The FAO representative to Pakistan Mina Dowlatchahi said that she was proud that the Ministry of NFS&R achieved the award for its services to control FMD. Humble assistance of the FAO will always be there at national and provincial levels. She also said that the livestock sector will get a great boost after the implementation of Prime Minister's Agriculture Emergency Program. At the concluding session the federal minister said that the Ministry of NFS&R has a highly regard for FAO for granting Edouard Souma Award 2018-19 and this cooperation will continue till FMD from the country.-PR