Preface

Brief History

Veterinary Research Institute was established in 1949 to undertake essential research on livestock and poultry diseases, its diagnosis and production of Veterinary Biologics and diagnostic agents.
FOUR Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VR&DL) at D.I. Khan, Swat, Mansehra and Kohat were established during 1988-91 to extend research and diagnostic facilities to the remote areas. At 2014 FMDRC VRI Peshawar was established to control the crucial Foot & Mouth Disease of the animals.
In 1978-79 Livestock Research and Development Farm Surezai was established. It has now been converted into a full Directorate of Livestock Research and Development (DLR&D) and now five research stations in Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Kohat, Dir (Lower) and Mansehra have been established to provide different kind of services to livestock farmers.
Under the restructuring of Livestock and Dairy Development Department, a Four Tier Formula was implemented in 2008. As a result the Research Wing of the Department, consisting of Veterinary Research Institute and Livestock Research & Development got Director General (BS-20) apart from up-gradation of Director LRD to BS-20 and creation of other BS-19 and BS-18 posts. The post of Director VRI, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar, being the senior most in hierarchy, was upgraded to DG. However the Director LR&D was downgraded to BS-19 in 2010.

Role of Livestock

Play important role in our economy
Income, protein, employment, draft power and fertilization
30-35m rural population attach to this sector having 2-3 cattle/buffalo or 5-6 goat/sheep
Earning 30-40% income from livestock production activities.
Livestock sector contributes 55% of the agriculture and11.8% to National GDP
3% of total exports derived from livestock
Turn over of the livestock sector in 2011-12 was Rs. 756 and 2012-13 was 776 billion with GR of 4.0%

Challenges