Punjab ramps up efforts to curb antibiotic misuse in poultry amid AMR concerns

Punjab has launched intensified measures to promote prudent antibiotic use, strengthen farm biosecurity and raise hygiene standards across its poultry sector — steps officials say are vital for protecting both animal and human health. The province accounts for roughly 70 percent of Pakistan’s more than 15,000 poultry farms, making its actions significant for the country’s meat and egg supply chain. (Islamabad, Sep 21)

Dr Farhan Afzal, Director of the Poultry Research Institute (PRI), told Wealth Pakistan that campaigns targeting farmer awareness on judicious antibiotic use, sanitation and on‑farm disease prevention are central to the province’s strategy. He warned that misuse and overuse of antibiotics can drive resistance in bacteria, underscoring the need for responsible treatment practices.

Diagnostics, surveillance and practical controls

To bolster detection and monitoring, the Bacteriology Laboratory at PRI Rawalpindi has received accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), a step officials say will enhance avian disease diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance across the poultry sector.

Dr Farhan said good production practices — including accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, effective biosecurity and basic sanitation — can substantially lower disease risk. He added that common bacterial infections such as E. coli and Salmonella are controllable through hygiene measures and that no major zoonotic disease is currently prevailing in Pakistan’s poultry sector, particularly in Punjab.

The Punjab government is also participating in the Fleming Fund, an international initiative aimed at tackling AMR in humans and animals, as part of its broader efforts to improve laboratory capacity and stewardship.

Industry demands tighter controls

Representatives of the poultry community have welcomed measures to contain AMR but urged a more comprehensive national biosecurity policy that covers antibiotic use across humans, livestock and poultry. Former Punjab chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association, Dr Abdul Karim Bhatti, highlighted unrestricted access to antibiotics as a pressing problem and called for a complete ban on over‑the‑counter sales of all types of antibiotics to curb misuse.

Officials and industry stakeholders say coordinated action on farmer education, diagnostic services and regulation of antibiotic sales will be key to preserving the effectiveness of treatments and safeguarding the safety of Pakistan’s poultry products.