Veterinary dispensaries facing closure.

CHITRAL -- The livestock and dairy development department is going to close down veterinary dispensaries in four far-flung areas of Chitral over the shortage of funds.

An official of the department told Dawn that veterinary centres were established in Bang Yarkhoon, Kalas Sheshi Koh, Shabronz Oveer and Jinjiret Koh areas from the discretionary development funds of the former MNA and MPAs during the last government initially for three years.

He said all those four centres faced closure on June 30 as no funds were available in the next fiscal to manage them.

The official said such temporary facilities were usually granted permanent status after their integration into the livestock department.

Meanwhile, former kissan councilor in district council Rahmat Elahi said veterinary centres in Bang, Kalas and Shabronz areas were the only facilities in the union councils of Yarkhoon, Oveer and Oveer respectively so their closure would create problems for the people. He said the people of those union councils depended on cattle farming for sustenance and the outbreak of any disease would cost them cattle.

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