PESHAWAR: The diseases of lumpy skin and foot-and-mouth are rapidly spreading in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, impacting dairy and small farmers as livestock department is yet to purchase vaccine and medicines for this purpose, according to growers.
On the other hand, official sources told Dawn that tender for procurement of medicines for fiscal year 2026-2027 was prepared on ‘single stage two envelopes’ procedure, however, it has not been finalised so far.
They said that a committee, notified for the tender, was marking technical score. “As of now, it is conducting physical inspection of companies. The firms that applied for the tender have serious reservations over the process and moved KP Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PRA) and Peshawar High Court for legal action,” an official told this scribe.
Besides, he said, the tender for procurement of all types of poultry and animal vaccines for 2026-27 was not even advertised yet. “The department has not purchased medicines and vaccines after June 30, 2026. It can be verified from stores of the department,” he added.
Express concern over unavailability of vaccines for lumpy skin and foot-and-mouth diseases; official says vaccination campaign under way in affected areas
The official said that the vaccines purchased by KP Directorate General Livestock during June 2026 were dispatched to relevant districts. “The district director livestock of some district like Kohistan hasn’t used these vaccines in field because the livestock management information system (LMIS) software is not working,” he said.
Meanwhile, Livestock Farmers Welfare Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has expressed grave concerns over the rapid spread of lumpy skin and foot-and-mouth diseases among livestock in various areas of the province, especially in Peshawar, as well as the unavailability of vaccines.
The association said that despite the spread of those diseases, farmers were facing severe difficulties in obtaining timely vaccines and necessary medical facilities. It said that as a result, farmers and livestock breeders were in acute distress and being forced to go from door to door to obtain vaccines.
It warned that if the situation was not brought under control immediately, large scale deaths of livestock and a decline in production could lead to a shortage of milk and meat across the province. “This would affect not only farmers but also ordinary consumers,” the association said.
Besides, a delegation of the association, led by its provincial president Mohammad Asif Khan Awan, met with director of livestock Dr Iftikhar Alam. The delegation briefed him on the spread of livestock diseases, non-availability of vaccines and the problems faced by farmers.
Dr Iftikhar assured the delegation that necessary steps would be taken to protect livestock from diseases and resolve the issues faced by farmers.
The association also appealed to chief minister, chief secretary, secretary of livestock and special assistant for livestock to take immediate notice of the situation.
It demanded provision of vaccines in sufficient quantities across the province, formation of mobile veterinary teams and launch of an emergency vaccination campaign in affected areas on a priority basis.
The association stated that farmers played a vital role in meeting province’s food requirements. It threatened to stage protests if steps were not taken to control the diseases.
A senior official of livestock department told Dawn that an extensive vaccination campaign was under way in the affected areas and major chunk of the available vaccines was being utilised.
He said that authorities directed district directors to purchase vaccines from market up to Rs500,000 while following KPPRA guidelines. He said that the most affected areas were southern and central districts and Dir Upper.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2026
