Punjab upgrades livestock disease surveillance system

Punjab upgrades livestock disease surveillance system

Punjab has taken a major step toward modernizing its livestock health system with the establishment of a new Animal Disease Reporting and Surveillance Directorate and a Provincial Response Unit.

Provincial Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani inaugurated the new building of the Directorate of Animal Disease Reporting and Surveillance on Tuesday, August 18.

Speaking at the inauguration, Kirmani said the Punjab Livestock Department has established the Animal Disease Reporting and Surveillance and Provincial Response Unit to strengthen disease monitoring and ensure a rapid response to emergencies involving animal diseases.

He said the Provincial Response Unit will remain prepared to respond quickly to disease outbreaks and other unexpected situations, helping protect livestock and support farmers.

Kirmani said Punjab has become the first province to establish a modern disease diagnosis and surveillance system for the livestock sector. Under the new system, the department’s divisional, district and tehsil-level formations will work in coordination with the provincial unit.

According to the minister, the upgraded system will bring livestock disease diagnosis and surveillance in line with modern requirements and improve the department’s ability to identify and respond to outbreaks at an early stage.

He said renovation and upgradation work on District Disease Investigation Laboratories in 27 districts is being completed within a short period. The laboratories are also receiving modern equipment, including X-ray and ultrasound machines, along with other essential diagnostic tools.

The department is also introducing 17 mobile veterinary laboratories to provide on-site disease diagnosis and surveillance in the field. These mobile units will carry the equipment and supplies required for diagnosing diseases and providing veterinary treatment, allowing departmental teams to reach affected farmers without unnecessary delays.

Kirmani said the modern laboratory network will help Punjab tackle major challenges in the livestock sector, particularly sudden outbreaks of infectious diseases among animals. He added that the government is working to bring disease surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms in line with international standards.

He further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the provincial government has developed a system under which livestock department teams will reach farmers directly instead of requiring farmers to travel to departmental facilities for every issue.

The minister said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has provided the Livestock Department with funding and other necessary facilities to strengthen veterinary services across Punjab.

He added that the new mobile veterinary laboratories will also connect with a vehicle tracking and monitoring system similar to the system used by the Suthra Punjab Authority. The technology will help officials monitor the movement and deployment of mobile units and improve the department’s field response.

The initiative is expected to strengthen disease detection, improve emergency response, expand veterinary services in rural areas and provide farmers with faster access to livestock healthcare.