Sindh signs agreement for producing its own vaccine for foot and mouth disease

The Sindh Livestock Department's Institute of Animal Health (SIAH) and the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) Faisalabad signed an agreement for vaccine of livestock.

Officials said on Tuesday that in response to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affecting livestock in the country, the Sindh Livestock Department has signed an agreement between its institution, the Sindh Institute of Animal Health (SIAH), and the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad. Under this agreement, with technical support from NIBGE, SIAH will develop its own vaccine to combat the foot and mouth disease.

Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mohammad Ali Malkani visited the Sindh Institute for Animal Health. Secretary Dr Kazim Hussain Jatoi, Director General SIAH Dr Nazir Ahmed Kalhoro, and other officials were present. The minister visited the Animal Farm, Laboratory, and Vaccine Center.

Dr Mazhar Iqbal, Director of NIBGE Faisalabad, and Dr Nazir Kalhoro, Director General of SIAH, signed the agreement, while provincial minister Mohammad Ali Malkani and Secretary Dr Kazim Hussain Jatoi witnessed it.

As per the agreement, the NIBGE Faisalabad will continue research for another year on the vaccine formula developed by them for FMD, after which the technology will be transferred to Sindh. Based on this, SIAH will begin producing its own FMD vaccine. Malkani stated that this is a historic moment as Sindh's institution will develop its own vaccine for foot and mouth disease, which will not only free livestock from the disease but also save millions of rupees in foreign exchange spent on imports.