ISLAMABAD, June 5: Experts at a workshop here on Sunday stressed the importance of developing the diagnostic skills of veterinary officers across the country. They were speaking at the conclusion of a two-week training workshop arranged for the first batch of some 20 veterinary officers at the National Veterinary Laboratories under the auspices of European Commission (EC) and the Punjab government.

The training was part of the ongoing six-year strengthening of livestock services project.

Speaking on the occasion, Michael Dale, the head of operations of the EC delegation in Islamabad, said project gave top priority to training and capacity building of laboratory staff and considered it essential for the sustainability of diagnostic services.

Under the project, he said, the EC was providing funds to the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock to impart training to farmers and improve the lives of livestock producers.

The Euros 22.9 million project was being carried out throughout Pakistan with the help of project management units located at Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Hyderabad.

There were also smaller units at Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, Mr Dale added. He said the activities and programmes were coordinated through a federal project management unit.

He said the project was enabling livestock service providers to gradually extend their capacity and reach out to remote areas.

Information on health, nutrition, housing and market potentials were being transferred to livestock producers by staff trained under the project, he added.

Project representatives said there was still a need to instruct veterinary staff and livestock owners on the benefits of laboratory support.