LAHORE — The Punjab government has officially deployed a fleet of mobile veterinary clinics, aiming to provide emergency medical care to livestock in the province’s most isolated rural pockets.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the service this week, signaling a shift in how the provincial government handles animal health. For years, farmers in districts like Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan have traveled hours to reach static clinics. Often, their animals died in transit.
These units are essentially animal hospitals on wheels. Each van carries diagnostic equipment, ultrasound machines, and a supply of vaccines, staffed by a veterinarian and a technician.
The service operates on a “call-to-doorstep” model. Farmers can dial a dedicated helpline to request a visit. The government claims the response time is capped at two hours for emergency cases, though skeptics point to the province’s patchy road networks as a potential hurdle for meeting that goal.
Livestock is the backbone of Punjab’s rural economy. Millions of families rely on cattle and buffalo for their daily survival. When a cow falls ill, it isn’t just a medical issue — it’s a direct hit to a family’s primary source of income.
“We aren’t just treating animals,” an official from the Livestock Department said during the launch. “We’re protecting the livelihoods of the people who feed this province.”
The government has earmarked a significant budget for the project, covering fuel, medical supplies, and staff salaries. However, the true test lies in sustainability. Previous initiatives involving mobile health units in other sectors often stalled due to poor maintenance and a lack of spare parts once the initial funding cycle ended.
For now, the fleet is operational across key agricultural hubs. Whether these vans can navigate the muddy tracks of southern Punjab during the monsoon season remains the question on many farmers’ minds.
If the model holds, it could change the economics of rural farming. If it fails, it’s just another fleet of expensive vehicles parked in government garages.
