By Kashif Shahzad
CHITRAL, 
The local’s villages told this scribe that so more than four hundered of their animals – mainly goats had died during the month of March. The unfortunate residents of Kalash Valley Rumboor are trouble with the outbreak of diseases among animals which are killing more and more of their livestock. As goats keeping is an important part of the Kalasha people’s culture, and one of the major source of income for the marginalized community living in Kalash Valley Rumbbor Chitral.
“I was shocked to see my goats dying due to the disease as these goats were the only source of livelihood of my family,” said Taleem Khan, a local residence of Kalash Valley Rumboor. Another resident Kalash Valley Rumboor told this scribe that about 400 goats were died to the unknown diseases. The nervous people of Rumboor contacted Dr. Sher Muhammad Director General Livestock & Dairy Development based at Peshawar, and the DG Livestock & Dairy Development KP issued directive to the District Director Livestock Chitral to take necessary action. District Office Livestock conformed that upon the direction of the DG Livestock, a team formed by consisting Dr. Mehtab Vet officer Health Livestock and Niyazuddin Vet Assistant and the team after visiting the area started disease information and sample collection. While sharing the findings, Mr. Niyazuddin, Vet Assistant, Livestock department confirmed that the main problems and issues which result the killing of hundered of livestock were mismanagement of livestock and heavy lice infestation. PPR symptoms were also recorded from major part of the animals, he further added. An official source in District Livestock office confirmed that the situation is under control now and a weeklong vaccination drive with the medicine and vaccines provided free of cost by Dr. Sher Muhammad DG, Livestock & dairy development KP has been lunched. Under the vaccination drive about 4000 goats were vaccinated and 1000 were treatment and the local goats keepers were advised to follow proper livestock management techniques, said Niyazuddin Vet assistant, Chitral.
Mr. Shafiqullah Khan a Field Biologist associated with World Wide Fund for nature Pakistan said that proper vaccination and management of livestock will lead better productivity and equal consumption of the pastures forages. He also confirmed that the Village Conservation committee (VCC) functioning in the area established by his Organization is facilitating the vaccination team to successfully implementation of the vaccination plan. The local community of Kalash valley Rumboor appreciated the efforts of Dr. Sher Muhammad DG Livestock, Khyberpukhtoonkhwa and all his team members for the sincere works in vaccination and provision of free vaccine and medicines to the poor livestock keepers of the area.