KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was informed on Wednesday that Newcastle disease (rani khait) and avian influenza had been effectively controlled in Tharparkar district and there were no reports of birds dying due to the virus in the affected areas.

Furnishing a statement and replies to lawmakers’ queries during Question Hour in the house, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Abdul Bari Pitafi said that a scheme for Tharparkar district for the prevention and control of Newcastle disease and avian influenza through mass vaccination in rural poultry was approved on Aug 4, 2017 with the total cost of Rs33 million for two years. He said that a scheme was completed by June 30, 2019.

Replying to a query of Grand Democratic Alliance’s member Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, the minister said that the activities of the scheme spread throughout Tharparkar district. “The main objectives of the scheme were to conduct preventive vaccination against the diseases, surveillance and sample collection and medication to the poultry population of the targeted area.”

He said 97,342 birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease and 71,252 birds were vaccinated against avian influenza.

Answering a verbal question by Ms Abbasi, Mr Pitafi said that preventive vaccination of birds was not conducted again as the two diseases were effectively controlled.

When the GDA member asked if the birds were still affected by the diseases, he said that not a single bird died of the two diseases after he assumed the charge of the livestock ministry.

In reply to another written question by her, the minister said the project of establishment of a district veterinary laboratory for disease confirmation and control was approved on Aug 4, 2017 with a total cost of Rs15.941m and it was completed in June 2019.

She further said that a veterinary laboratory was to be established in Sujawal district but only its building had been raised.

The minister replied that the machinery and equipment could not be procured for the laboratory as the finance department did not release funds for it “due to financial constraints”.

In reply to another question by Ms Abbasi, he said that the project for renovation of floating jetties in Thatta and Badin was completed in June 2019 at a cost of Rs59m. He said the project was delayed due to non-release of funds.

Fishing ban

Answering a question by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf member Khurram Sher Zaman, the minister said a two-month ban on catching fish and shrimps was imposed during the fish breeding season — from June 1 to July 31 — under the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance, 1980.

When the PTI member asked what arrangements were made for the livelihood of fisherman during the two-month ban, the minister said Rs25m was allocated for compensating fishermen during the ban period in 2016.

The minister further said that Mr Zaman was wrong to assume that the Livestock and Fisheries Department generated

huge revenues. “We don’t have revenue generation sources as only Rs100 fee is obtained for issuing a licence for fishing,” he said.

To a verbal question by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan member Mufti Qasim Fakhri, he said the ban on fishing during the breeding season was imposed worldwide to increase the fish population.

He said fishermen were not allowed to go in water for catch by different agencies and departments during the ban on fishing.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2020