As the number of cattle suffering from lumpy skin disease crossed 30,000 on Monday with more than half of the cases reported in Karachi alone, the Sindh government finally placed the order for importing around two million doses of vaccines from Turkey at a cost of Rs500 million after getting permission from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).
Sources said that the Sindh government processed the whole exercise on a war footing basis to initiate vaccination by the end of current week and the latest development had lifted their hopes with regard to meeting the deadline. They said that a Punjab-based veterinary medicines and vaccines importing and marketing company had won the bid to supply the imported vaccine. “We are importing 1.9 million doses of these vaccines through Punjab-based Huzaifa International,” Sindh Livestock and Fisheries Secretary Tameezuddin Khero told. “The provincial government has set aside Rs500 million for the vaccine import programme.” He said that it was mandatory to take permission from Drap for the import of any vaccines or veterinary medicines. “The good thing is our supplier got the approval and the order has finally placed today. Now all the focus is on transportation of the consignment.” The senior official said the vaccines will be transported from Turkey in a cargo plane with cold chain equipment. Government expecting the consignment to land within the next few days. For vaccinating the cattle, the government has claimed to have made a “comprehensive plan”. So far most LSD cases are found in Karachi so definitely major focus of the program will be in Sindh.
