Introduction

HISTORY

Veterinary Research Institute, NWFP, Peshawar is the pioneer Research Organization of its own kind in the country. It was established in the year, 1949 to undertake essential research on livestock and poultry diseases, production of Veterinary Biologics and diagnostic agents to meet the demands of the country as well as defense services and supply to neighboring countries of Afghanistan and Iran, in cases of emergency. The Institute remained under the Federal Government till the year, 1955. During One Unit era it remained under the control of West Pakistan Animal Husbandry Department and called as Pakistan Animal Husbandry Research Institute (PAHRI).

With the restoration of the old provinces in the year, 1970, majority of the equipment and trained manpower were shifted to Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore. The Veterinary Research Institute, NWFP, Peshawar (VRI) was placed under the administrative control of Government of NWFP and efforts were started to establish the Institute on modern scientific lines. In the year 1976 a new building /laboratories were constructed and posts of Director and Senior Research Officers were sanctioned. During 1981-85 the Dutch Government provided assistance in the shape of some equipment and training of technical staff.

With a view to extend research and diagnostic facilities to the remote areas of the Province, four Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VR&DL) were established at Dara Ismail Khan, Swat, Mansehra and Kohat during 1988-91. In 1992 Center of Animal Biotechnology was established to undertake research in the specialized field of Biotechnology for better disease diagnosis and control in animals through advanced techniques like ELISA, Electrophoresis etc. and enhancement of livestock productivity using appropriate biotechnology. In September 2001 VR&DL Dhodial Mansehra was shifted to the Govt. Poultry Farm Abbottabad building due to the creation of Hazara University. This building was not fit for a research laboratory hence efforts were started to establish a new center on modern scientific lines and Re-establishment of Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Center (VR&DC) Abbottabad was completed in 2006-07. The VR&DC is located at the hub of Poultry Production region and is of significant importance.