CM orders LSD vaccine procurement

As Eidul Azha fast approaches, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has ordered the finance minister to provide the required funds to the livestock department on an urgent basis so that it could purchase more anti-Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine.

The chief minister – while chairing a meeting to review the latest situation of the LSD among the cattle in the province and steps being taken to control it from spreading – directed the quarters concerned to ramp up efforts to contain its spread and put in place an effective mechanism for all time monitoring.

Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Livestock Secretary Muhammad Israr and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

CM Mahmood directed the finance and livestock departments to finalise all matters related to the release of required funds for purchasing more vaccine, saying that the provincial government would provide all required resources to this end on a priority basis.

The meeting was informed that the first LSD case was reported in April this year from DI Khan and so far thousands of animals had been affected across the province, adding that 25 districts had been partially affected by LSD whereas mortality rate was up to 5%.

It was told that in the wake of upcoming Eidul Azha, the risk of LSD spread could increase due to increased movement of cattle into the province.

It was also informed that an LSD task force had been established at provincial level while animal check posts were established at provincial and district entry points.

It was added that anti-tick spray campaigns were carried out covering 800,000 animals. Similarly, 274,000 doses of vaccine had been procured and supplied in the affected districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2022.