Pakistan can learn from Iron Brother China to develop vaccines for veterinary diseases: Minister
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza has said that Pakistan could learn from Iron Brother China to develop vaccines for veterinary diseases specially the most common Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
Chairing a meeting here on issues relating to veterinary education with the Vice Chancellors of public and private sector universities representing all provinces of Pakistan, she said China had been helpful in all fields.
“Technical expertise could be availed from China to cater to this (vaccines) issue under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” she said, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.
During the meeting, existing state of affairs in veterinary education like accreditation of veterinary institutions, registration and other issues of students, updating of curriculum, availability of senior faculty, training of doctors and livestock related diseases were discussed, said the statement.
Dr Fehmida Mirza said that CPEC had a wide range which included education and technical cooperation.
She also highlighted the issues related to complaints made by students on PM Complaint Portal and the government’s resolve to improve veterinary education by upgrading the curriculum of veterinary medicine as per international standards as Pakistan was far behind in latest technological developments in the veterinary and livestock sector.
The minister said the government supported the elevation of veterinary education and was serious in considering introducing paid house jobs for veterinary students across the country as done in regular medical colleges.
Her ministry, she said, would take the matter with all the provinces in this regard. “The need for giving the veterinary education more priority in PhD programs, foreign scholarships and international trainings for career development of professionals and students was a key focus area for which Higher Education Commission will be approached,” she added.
The minister said the serious issue of quackery prevailing within the country, the importance of eradication of this menace at the earliest should be on top priority basis.
On issues of mainstreaming of those students who belong to institutions which were not recognized, she highlighted the importance of timely relief to such students.
The participants of the meeting also discussed the need of funding and grant to develop infrastructure and build institutional capacity of veterinary universities and institutions.
The minister also asked the VCs to communicate their needs, concerns and suggestions, so that they can be examined and added to the agenda of Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) meetings for discussion and way forward.
