PESHAWAR, Dec 1: The provincial government will introduce a comprehensive plan to promote livestock on modern scientific lines, the NWFP Minister for Food Agriculture and Livestock, Abeedullah Jan, said on Saturday.

He was presiding a meeting on performance and future planning of the livestock department at his office.

The minister said livestock was an important sector which could help strengthen the economy provided sincere efforts were made in this respect.

He said huge funds had been allocated to eradicate foot-and-mouth diseases which were the main hurdle in livestock promotion and dairy development.

Mr Abeedullah said initially a campaign of livestock vaccination was being launched all over the province through farms services centres at district, tehsil and village levels.

He said assistance of the UNDP would also be sought for the plan, in case of paucity of funds.

He also directed for coordination between the agriculture department, livestock extension and research wing for achieving the desired goals.