Arooj Zulfiqar

Pakistan can't ignore the potential of its livestock sector and can learn from China to bolster its efforts to manage and prevent livestock diseases. Syed Jawed Hussain Kazmi, Chairman of Livestock Exporters Association Pakistan, said this while talking to WealthPK. "Livestock provides income and employment to the people involved in this sector. It can also boost our economy by adding up to the foreign exchange reserves, but livestock diseases are affecting the economy as well as producers. "Livestock has a substantial role in the agriculture sector, and more than 50-51% of the population is involved in agro-based activities," he said. "Livestock plays a pivotal role in the economies of both Pakistan and China, contributing significantly to agriculture and food security. China has made remarkable strides in recent years in controlling and preventing livestock diseases, and there are valuable lessons that Pakistan can learn from its experiences. "One key aspect that Pakistan can learn from China is the emphasis on a holistic and integrated approach to disease control.

China has successfully implemented comprehensive strategies that include  early detection, efficient diagnosis, and timely intervention. By adopting a similar approach, Pakistan can strengthen its disease surveillance systems, implement rapid diagnostic technologies, and ensure swift response mechanisms to contain outbreaks before they escalate," Kazmi said. "China's success in livestock disease control is also attributed to its investment in research and development. Pakistan can benefit from establishing collaborative research initiatives among the academic institutions, government bodies, and private sector. By fostering a culture of innovation, both countries can work together to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment methods that are tailored to the specific challenges faced by their livestock populations," he said. In a collaborative effort, the Institute of Microbiology at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, in partnership with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab and China Agriculture University, organized a comprehensive one-day training forum.

Titled "China-Pakistan Training Forum on Livestock Disease Control," the forum aimed to address and combat major livestock diseases. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr Abid Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer Punjab Agriculture Research Board, said it was direly needed to learn new techniques and technologies to meet the international standards in order to enhance the export of dairy and meat products in the international markets. "I am glad to know that different areas of Punjab have been declared disease-free zones for the livestock." He said such training was necessary to learn about new experiences especially to control livestock major diseases and the UVAS's collaborative partnership with the Chinese academic and business industry would be more beneficial for both countries not only to promote academic and research but also to enhance exports.

Credit: INP-WealthPk