Islamabad: A new digital livestock monitoring system, approved by the Punjab government, is set to revolutionize animal healthcare across the province by enabling real-time tracking of veterinary services, officials and experts announced.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Key Features of the Initiative:
- Integrated Digital Framework: Developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), the system unifies services of the Livestock & Dairy Development Department onto a single platform called “Livestock Connect.”
- Real-Time Field Monitoring: Connects mobile veterinary units to the platform, allowing closer oversight of staff performance, service delivery, and field operations.
- Enhanced Farmer Access: Enables farmers, particularly in remote and border regions, to access timely vaccination, treatment, and advisory services digitally.
Expert Insight:
Prof. Mazhar Ayaz, Vice-Chancellor of Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, emphasized the system’s potential to curb trans-boundary animal diseases—such as Lumpy Skin Disease, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)—by strengthening surveillance in vulnerable border districts including Attock, DG Khan, Koh-e-Suleman, Bhakkar, and Rahim Yar Khan.
“With digital surveillance, diseases can be controlled more effectively, moving Punjab closer to becoming a disease-free zone,” Prof. Ayaz told Wealth Pakistan.
Accountability and Support:
The platform also introduces a feedback mechanism, allowing farmers to report missed vaccinations or staff absenteeism, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
In parallel, the Punjab cabinet has approved a fixed monthly travel allowance of Rs. 4,000 for veterinary assistants and artificial insemination technicians—a move hailed as a long-awaited reform to improve field mobility and service focus.
Livestock Sector Growth:
The rollout coincides with strong performance in Pakistan’s livestock sector, which recorded a growth rate of 4.72% in FY25, maintaining a consistent upward trend over the past six years.
Growth Timeline (FY20–FY25):
- FY20: 2.80%
- FY21: 2.38%
- FY22: 2.25%
- FY23: 3.70%
- FY24: 4.38%
- FY25: 4.72%
Prof. Ayaz attributes this growth to rising domestic demand for milk and meat, improved farm management, and better adoption of breeding and health services. He emphasized that targeted investments in feed, disease control, and value-added processing could further amplify the sector’s role in rural employment, food security, and sustainable development.
Conclusion:
The combined measures—digital integration and staff support—are expected to enhance disease control, improve service delivery, and bolster the livelihoods of millions of livestock farmers across Punjab, reinforcing the sector’s critical role in the agricultural economy.
Cholistan University has expressed its readiness to support the program, describing it as a major step toward modernizing livestock healthcare in Pakistan.