CHITRAL: The district administration has been criticised for its indifference towards the issue of poultry shops galore in the city which pose a potential threat to the outbreak of zoonotic diseases.

The concern was voiced during the monthly meeting of the district zoonotic control committee (DZCC) here on Friday and chaired by district health offi cer Dr Israrullah.

The participants observed that the committee had been requesting the district administration for the last one year to shift the poultry shops to a single spot to neutralise the threat of the diseases, but to no effect.

Veterinary offi cer Shiekh Ahmed told the meeting that 80 per cent of the poultry shops were located adjacent to food shops and suggested the establishment of a separate market for poultry business to avoid zoonotic diseases.

Constituted by NGO Relief International as part of its efforts to fi ght zoonosis, the DZCC consists of all stakeholders which reviews on monthly basis the arrangements and measures for checking zoonotic diseases in Chitral.

The NGO’s district project manager Dr Mohammad Tayyab expressed concern over the abnormal rise in the number of TB patients in the district during the last two months, saying that TB was one of the zoonotic diseases and its rapid spread must be an eye opener to all the concerned.

He said that surveillance of zoonotic diseases by the community members had been ensured by imparting extensive training to them.

The committee secretary, Ajaz Ahmed, presented bylaws of the body to make it a viable and self-sustainable body after completion of the NGO-run project.

The meeting directed the livestock department to prepare a draft proposal to the provincial government to make allocation for fi ghting the zoonotic diseases in the district where more than 80 per cent people depended on agriculture and cattle farming for their sustenance.

Published in Dawn December 6th , 2014