The three-day training on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in livestock systems for officers from Balochistan concluded in Lahore with a shared sense of renewal and pride.
Designed and led by Dr Saadia Hanif, independent livestock and climate consultant, the program was organised by Farm Dynamics Pakistan under the European Union funded Revival of Balochistan Water Resources Programme, implemented by Landell Mills and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Ten livestock professionals representing the Government of Balochistan joined the training, coordinated by Syed Saqib from the RBWR TA project. Over two days of in-house sessions and one full day in the field, the officers moved from classrooms to corrals, from theory to the smell of soil and disinfectant. At Harbanspura Gawala Colony they saw the human side of urban livestock keeping, and at Tazij Slaughterhouse they witnessed how hygiene, discipline, and technology can turn daily routines into living standards of excellence.
Dr Abdul Jabbar, Director Livestock Balochistan, spoke quietly but his words lingered. “I once visited a slaughterhouse in Japan,” he said, “but this is the first time I have seen such a modern and well-managed facility in Pakistan. This is real WASH in practice.” Others nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting the same discovery “that good practices can exist at home, not only abroad”.
During the visit, Dr Muhammad Ashraf, Director General Extension, Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab, came to greet the delegation. He spoke of the importance of working together across provinces and shared Punjab’s recent work on mobile veterinary units, FMD-free zones, and compost management in Gawala colonies through collaboration with the Energy Department. A shield of appreciation was presented to him by FDP and RBWR TA for his support and vision.
Balochistan holds nearly one third of Pakistan’s livestock population. The province’s animals and people depend on each other for survival, food, and livelihood. The officers who attended this training will now begin to apply WASH-compliant biosecurity practices, encourage manure-to-compost systems, and run gender-sensitive hygiene campaigns across priority districts. Their goal is to bring measurable reductions in water waste and zoonotic risks within the coming year.
The training journey was both intellectual and emotional. It linked hygiene with human health and climate resilience, explored manure as a living resource rather than waste, and discussed how behavior change begins not with instruction but with shared belief.
In her closing words, Dr Saadia Hanif reminded everyone that livestock stands at the heart of the climate story: it is the victim, the cause, and the solution. “If we wish to remain competitive and respected in global trade,” she said, “we must make WASH part of our daily practice, not an occasional effort.”
She expressed gratitude to the organisers, participants, and contributors including Ms. Hafsa Bashir, Dr Asif Iqbal, and Mr. Hassan Bin Saadat for their technical guidance, and appreciated the steady coordination of Syed Saqib and the Farm Dynamics Pakistan team who ensured that learning flowed without barriers.
Syed Saqib commended the relevance and quality of the program, while Ahsan Mustafa Bajwa, CEO of Farm Dynamics Pakistan, joined virtually to reaffirm his company’s dedication to helping Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock communities grow stronger through smart technologies, training, and care for both animals and the people who raise them.
Farm Dynamics Pakistan, part of the A Z Group, continues to bridge research, technology, and farmer experience to build a more climate-ready and productive future. The Revival of Balochistan Water Resources Programme, funded by the European Union, was launched in 2022 by Landell Mills and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The programme strengthens water resource governance, transforms agricultural and livestock systems toward lower water use, and builds the capacity of research and education institutions while encouraging innovation and the active participation of women.