Murad wants veterinary hospitals upgraded with indoor facilities

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the provincial livestock department to establish at least three veterinary hospitals in the province with proper indoor treatment facilities.

The hospitals would not only treat cattle but also street animals and birds, he said. “We have general veterinarians and veterinary surgeons in government veterinary hospitals, and their services are under-utilised," he said and directed the provincial livestock secretary to engage their services so that the injured street animals could be treated at these facilities.

The CM issued these instructions on Wednesday while presiding over a meeting to review the recovery of a camel that was brought to Karachi after its leg was amputated over a dispute in Sanghar and a donkey at the animal shelter of the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS).

Fisheries & Livestock Secretary Kazim Jatoi, veterinary experts of the department and Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh attended the meeting. Shah pointed out that there were government veterinary hospitals all over the province. “We must have good indoor facilities for animals, including street animals and birds, where they could be provided with necessary medical treatment and surgeries,” he said.

He directed the livestock department to upgrade three veterinary hospitals – one at the Radio Pakistan Karachi, another in Hyderabad and the third one in Khairpur — so that they had indoor facilities.

The CM directed the livestock department to hire the services of qualified and practising veterinary doctors and technicians, and provide them with all facilities such as X-ray machines, ultrasound and other facilities. The livestock secretary gave a detailed briefing to the CM about the injured camel and donkey.

Injured camel

The meeting was told that a young camel owned by Soomar, son of Yaroo Behan, had on June 13 trespassed on a land in Sanghar district owned by a man, Ghulam Shar, who had rented it out for cultivation to another person named Jaffar.

When the camel was caught trespassing on the land, its lower limb of a right leg was chopped off by suspects with a sharp axe.

The meeting was told that the local administration had filed a criminal case against six suspects and the camel was moved to the CDRS facility in Malir with the assistance of the livestock and fisheries department. It was said that the young camel was currently stable and had been feeding on grass.

Injured donkey

A donkey brutally beaten by its owner Mir Hassan Rind was found on a farmland in the vicinity of Cattle Colony Sirri, Hyderabad. The donkey had reportedly been so severely beaten that its hind legs had multiple fractures and bruises all over the body.

With the help of local officials after filing a criminal case against the suspected owner, the ailing donkey was transported to the CDRS animal shelter where it was being treated. The meeting was told that the donkey was eating grass and drinking water but it struggled to stand.

The initial X-ray examination revealed multiple compound fractures but the bleeding had stopped and wounds were being cleaned and dressed on a daily basis. It was said that the donkey was relatively stable with all vital signs active but not out of danger. The fractured and paralysed limbs could develop moist gangrene that may travel to the upper limb area and pelvic region of the animal and lead to death.

The CM directed the livestock secretary to ensure proper treatment and care of both the injured animals and keep him updated. He also directed the district administration all over Sindh to not tolerate cruelty to animals.