Donkeys chew up Rs 110.589m of cash-strapped Sindh’s funds

While the Sindh government has been complaining of financial constraints for the next budget, donkeys have chewed up at least Rs 110.589 million of the government’s funds, Pakistan Today has learnt. Intrigued by the use of donkeys to Sindh’s people and economy, the Sindh Livestock and Fisheries department initiated a scheme titled ‘Pilot Project for Equine (Donkey) Research and Extension’ at CVDL Tandojam, sources told Pakistan Today.
The scheme was approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on April 30, 2009, with Rs 110.589 million granted for the project. At least Rs 49.995 million had been allocated in the Annual Development Programme 2009-10, but the scheme is to be completed by 2013-14, sources added. The scheme aims at establishing an equine research farm at Tando Ghulam Ali for donkey and mule production, sources explained, adding that the registration, sampling and survey of equines for baseline information will be conducted in Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari, Thatta and Karachi districts. Diagnosis and treatment of blood parasites and other diseases will be provided to registered owners as per baseline information, sources said.
Also under the auspices of the project is a plan to build a relationship between Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam and Equine Research and Extension Centre. Postgraduate researchers and scientists pursuing research on various aspects related to equine awareness will be invited to extension trainings, while meetings will be organised to explain inputs on feeding. An annual equine exhibition would also be organised to provide a one-window opportunity to equine owners, sources said.