ISLAMABAD, July 4: The Arid Agriculture University will have a new faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said an announcement on Tuesday. A project submitted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), “Establishment of Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi”, has been approved in a recently-held meeting of Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission, it said.

The project aims not only at establishment of faculty, but also at enhancing research capabilities of undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as the faculty members of the university.

The new department will initiate a five years degree course of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), M.Sc (Hons) and Ph.D programmes in various disciplines of veterinary and animal sciences like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, parasitological, veterinary medicine and surgery, animal reproduction, poultry sciences, animal nutrition and livestock production. In this way, the project will help meet the future needs of professional and skilled manpower for the veterinary & animal sectors in the arid areas of the country.

Through the project, a veterinary and animal sciences extension unit will also be established to not only train the local community, but also to provide technical and veterinary care and health services to their livestock and poultry.

These services will definitely improve the health and production of the livestock and poultry in the region, and ultimately improve the economic status of the people.

The entire population of Punjab in general and Barani areas in particular along with other provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be served through the project. Overseas students will also be benefited from the project. On the whole, students within the age group of 17 to 40 years, ranging from low middle to high-income level, will be directly benefited from the project. It would also help educate and train the people of the arid areas in new techniques of poultry management, and development of dairy & meat products on scientific lines.