December 19, 2005	Monday	Ziqa’ad 16, 1426

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VEHARI, Dec 18: Private veterinary clinics in the district are fleecing livestock breeders and cattle owners. At present there are 20 private veterinary hospitals, 15 dispensaries and 30 centres in the district. A majority of these centres are being run by officials of the livestock department. Three hospitals, four centres and 10 government dispensaries do not have the required number of staff and drugs.

Private clinics are overcrowded while the government hospitals look deserted as the vets insist people to bring their animals to their clinics.

There is hardly any house in the rural areas where cattle are not kept. Farmers keep precious Neeli Ravi breed of buffaloes, Jersy Frasian cow and different breeds of sheep and goats. Businessmen from all over the country visit Vehari to buy animals from the markets held weekly in various parts of the district. Although the animal trade is flourishing, people involved in rearing the cattle face financial burden.

There are an estimated 480,000 buffaloes and 200,000 cows in the district. There is no mobile team to provide help to farmers in case their animals fall sick. Due to shortage of medicines in the government hospitals, mortality rate is very high. In many cases, medicines are only provided on the recommendation of influential people.

According to livestock officer Dr Siddique Akhtar, Rs3.5 million have been provided by the district government for the purchase of medicines. The purchase process has started and medicines would reach hospitals in next few months.

However, he admitted that the available stock was not enough to meet the requirements.

A private practitioner alleged that medicines tagged “Not For Sale” were being sold by the veterinary officers of the livestock department in their private clinics.

A group of farmers told Dawn that doctors were usually absent from their duties. Another group belonging to Thingi Colony area said they were facing problems since the livestock department was given under the control of agriculture department.

It is learnt that the agriculture department had not purchased medicines for the livestock department for the last one year forcing people to purchase them from the open market. Although the district government has allocated Rs5 million for the purchase of medicines in 2005-06, funds have not yet been utilized due to alleged mismanagement and poor planning.

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