SIALKOT, July 11: The special funds of Rs2.9 million (allocated by the district government a year ago for purchasing veterinary medicines in the financial year 2004-05) have lapsed due to the alleged mismanagement and poor planning of the EDO (agriculture) office. Sources said now there were no medicines for the livestock— 192,738 Neeli Ravi buffaloes and 78,233 cross bred cows, besides thousands of other cattle— in the district’s veterinary hospitals, dispensaries, centres and laboratories for the last six months.

Requesting anonymity, some officials said that now they were advising the livestock owners to purchase these medicines on self-help basis despite their financial constraints.

They said no new funds had been allocated by the department concerned for the purpose despite lapsing of the old ones. The stocked vaccines were also in very short quantity, they added.

They apprehended that in case of sudden outbreak of any epidemic among the cattle and livestock, the veterinary health department in the district would be of no help.

Meanwhile, the district’s all 22 veterinary officers (VOs), 92 veterinary assistants (VAs) and 36 artificial insemination technicians (AITs) have strongly protested against the alleged harsh attitude of the EDO (Agriculture), who was also holding the charge of Livestock.

Through a resolution, the livestock officials have urged Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and DCO Shafqat Ranjha to immediately transfer the EDO Rana Farman Ali who had been posted in the district for the last 12 years. They warned that if the EDO was not transferred immediately, then the VOs, VAs and AITs would go on a strike.

They also urged the provincial government to re-allocate the funds for purchasing the veterinary medicines in the larger interest of the livestock owners, besides announcing a special relief package in this regard.

EDO Rana Farman Ali negated all the allegations. However, he refused to comment on the situation.