DERA GHAZI KHAN: The contagious foot-and-mouth disease and haemorrhagic septicaemia have spread among livestock in multiple areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts causing distress among cattle owners and breeders.

Farmers have reported severe infections among their animals fearing financial losses if the outbreak is not controlled.

The Livestock Department has been urged to deploy emergency veterinary mobile teams to conduct examinations and provide necessary vaccinations and treatment to save the animals.

Livestock is a major source of livelihood in the region and the loss of thousands of valuable animals can devastate the local economy. Residents have appealed to the government for immediate intervention to protect their livestock and livelihoods.

Deputy commissioners of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur Usman Khalid and Shafqatullah said a vaccination campaign had been launched to control the disease.

SAFE CITY: The safe city project has been initiated in Dera Ghazi Khan, under which surveillance cameras are being installed at all major entry and exit points of the city to monitor traffic and enhance security.

A monitoring centre has been established at police lines, which will operate round the clock.

Muhammad Bilal, assistant manager of the project, said that in the first phase, 170 cameras are being installed across the city. Moreover, automatic number plate recognition cameras have been placed at all entry and exit points to record vehicle licence plates to control vehicle theft and track suspicious movements.

Mr Bilal added that private cameras installed by traders, businesses and banks will also be integrated into the safe city monitoring system to create a comprehensive security network. The project will also provide electronic data analysis and collection facilities to investigation officers, supplying them with digital evidence to support criminal investigations.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2025