Lodhran launches pet dog vaccination

Initiative introduces Pakistan's first animal health tracking system

LODHRAN:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's pilot project, "Safe Future for All," has been formally launched in Lodhran — making it the first district in Pakistan to begin systematic vaccination and microchipping of pet dogs.

The initiative was inaugurated in tehsil Dunyapur under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Dr Lubna Nazir, marking a milestone in animal health and public safety.

Special teams began vaccinating registered pet dogs and inserting digital microchips to track their health records and prevent rabies transmission.

Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Jutt supervised the campaign, while consultant Fahim Asghar led the vaccination and microchipping work in Chak 319, 327, and 329-WB.

Dog owners brought their pets to designated points for vaccination and registration, expressing gratitude to the Punjab government for providing the service free of cost.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Lubna Nazir said each dog's vaccination and chip installation cost around Rs3,000, which the government is fully covering.

She explained that the initiative will help prevent rabies and enable easy identification of registered dogs through a new digital app, both within Pakistan and abroad.

Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Jutt added that the campaign started in rural areas to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases and promote animal health.

"This modern registration system not only protects animals but also safeguards human lives," he said.

Consultant Fahim Asghar revealed that the Lodhran project has been under development for four months.

The microchips, each carrying a unique identification code, are linked to an online database that stores the owner's details, address, and vaccination history.

"If a registered dog moves to another city, authorities can scan the chip to verify its vaccination record," he explained.

He added that the team is also working on vaccinating and registering stray dogs to reduce rabies cases.

The unique Lodhran district code "0608" will identify all vaccinated dogs from the region.