Islamabad, The federal government, in collaboration with provincial authorities, has initiated a comprehensive program aimed at eradicating Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as Goat Plague, a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats. This announcement was made by Federal Minister for Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, who outlined the government’s strategy to combat this disease that poses a significant threat to the livelihood of rural communities across Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, Minister Hussain detailed the scope of the national program, which includes providing free vaccinations against PPR to farmers. He highlighted the importance of the livestock sector to millions of rural families who rely on sheep and goats for their livelihood. The recent efforts by both federal and provincial governments have led to a noticeable decline in PPR cases.

The minister also noted that Pakistan has committed to a global agreement aiming to eliminate PPR by 2028. In the fiscal year 2022-23 alone, the government distributed 31.35 million doses of PPR vaccines to provinces, indicating a significant investment in disease control. Hussain emphasized that these measures are critical for protecting animals from diseases and enhancing the productivity of the livestock sector, particularly in the production of mutton and goat milk.

During a seminar on PPR control and elimination held in Islamabad, Livestock Commissioner Muhammad Akram underscored the severity of the disease, describing symptoms such as high fever and mucus discharge in infected animals, with a mortality rate of 60 to 80 percent among goats. He reassured that the government is taking effective prevention measures to address the outbreak.

The ongoing village-to-village vaccination campaign, conducted by provincial livestock departments, is a key component of the strategy to control the spread of PPR and safeguard the health of Pakistan’s livestock population.