ROME: (News Desk) – Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has called for increased international investment in animal health, disease surveillance and One Health systems to help prevent emerging health threats from developing into future pandemics.
Addressing a high-level session at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, the minister said pandemic preparedness should begin by addressing risks at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.
Rana Tanveer said Pakistan faces major One Health challenges because of its large livestock population, close interaction between people and animals, high population mobility and recurring climate-related disruptions. He noted that animal health is closely connected to food security, rural livelihoods and public health.
The minister highlighted Pakistan’s progress under the Pandemic Fund, saying the country had received approximately $18.7 million in funding, along with $4.1 million in co-financing and $49.7 million in co-investment mobilized around the programme.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Ministry of Climate Change. The WHO, FAO and Asian Development Bank are serving as implementing entities.
Rana Tanveer said substantial progress had been achieved in less than 18 months. A National One Health Secretariat is now operational at the National Institutes of Health, while One Health units and coordination committees have been established in five of Pakistan’s six regions.
On animal health, he said work to strengthen the laboratory network was around 75 percent complete. Provincial veterinary laboratories have been assessed, upgrade plans finalized and guidelines for collecting and transporting samples issued.
He also highlighted the enrolment of Pakistan’s first national poultry laboratory in an international proficiency-testing programme.
The minister said an upgraded electronic Animal Disease Reporting and Surveillance System was also being developed with the endorsement of all provinces and regions.
The expanded system is expected to improve disease monitoring across the livestock sector while extending surveillance to wildlife and aquaculture, strengthening the country’s ability to detect emerging health threats at an early stage.
Rana Tanveer also highlighted the establishment of multisectoral rapid-response teams and field epidemiology training at provincial and district levels. The initiative aims to bring professionals from human, animal and environmental health sectors together to respond to disease outbreaks.
“Animal health is not the periphery of pandemic prevention for a country like Pakistan; it is the front door,” the minister said, stressing that investment in animal and environmental health could help reduce the human and economic impact of future outbreaks.
He said Pakistan was willing to share its experience of implementing the One Health approach within a large and complex federal structure and welcomed continued cooperation with the FAO, Pandemic Fund Secretariat and other member states.
Rana Tanveer also called for sustained international cooperation and long-term financing to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, while appreciating FAO’s technical expertise and field presence in improving animal health systems and promoting the One Health approach.
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