Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the gravest global health threats of our time — silently spreading across human, animal, and environmental interfaces.
In Pakistan, the situation has reached alarming levels, particularly in the livestock sector where the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats has become routine practice. The problem is compounded by weak regulations, lack of enforcement, and a general disregard for withdrawal periods before slaughter or milk sale — resulting in contaminated animal-origin food products that directly threaten public health and the country’s export credibility.
Unchecked antimicrobial resistance not only jeopardizes human and animal health but also poses a serious challenge to Pakistan’s food security and agricultural sustainability. The widespread misuse of antibiotics in livestock for growth promotion or routine disease prevention has led to the presence of drug residues in meat and milk products.
These residues create a chain reaction — from resistance development in bacteria to severe export restrictions imposed by international markets. Countries such as the European Union, Gulf States, and China have increasingly tightened food safety requirements, and Pakistan’s failure to comply has become a barrier to expanding its meat and dairy exports.
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Despite efforts, Pakistan continues to lose significant economic potential due to non-compliance with international food safety and AMR-related standards. According to trade estimates, the country’s meat and dairy sectors face export losses of over Rs. 25–30 billion annually, as consignments are either rejected or restricted by importing countries for failing to meet antimicrobial residue limits. These economic setbacks are not just trade losses — they represent missed opportunities for rural income growth, foreign exchange earnings, and national reputation in global markets.
The issue is deeply rooted in poor regulatory implementation. Veterinarians and para-veterinary staff often prescribe antibiotics without proper diagnostic justification, while farmers freely procure over-the-counter drugs without prescriptions. Even more concerning is the non-observance of withdrawal periods — the critical time required for drug residues to leave the animal’s system before its milk or meat enters the food chain. The absence of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms at farm level allows residue-contaminated products to reach consumers unchecked.
At the policy level, the response remains fragmented. Although the Ministry of National Food Security and provincial livestock departments recognize AMR as a threat, their measures have been mostly limited to occasional awareness sessions and workshops. Most donor-funded and departmental initiatives remain confined to seminars in five-star hotels, producing colorful presentations but little measurable field impact. The real challenge — ensuring on-farm antibiotic stewardship, residue testing, and responsible prescription practices — remains largely unaddressed.
Pakistan’s livestock sector urgently needs a structured national response similar to international best practices. For instance, Thailand successfully reduced antibiotic residues in meat exports by introducing on-farm audits and maintaining antibiotic registers. Pakistan can adopt a similar approach by empowering provincial livestock departments to establish AMR monitoring and control units, conduct routine residue testing, and make drug registers mandatory at veterinary clinics and farms.
Furthermore, the establishment of regional AMR diagnostic laboratories in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta would provide the necessary infrastructure for evidence-based policy and compliance with global standards.
A crucial component of long-term reform lies in education. This issue must be properly addressed in the DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree program. Integrating comprehensive modules on antibiotic stewardship, residue management, and regulatory frameworks into the veterinary curriculum can ensure that future veterinarians act as the frontline defenders against antimicrobial resistance. Without building professional competence at the educational level, no policy reform can achieve sustainable results.
It is time for the federal and provincial livestock departments to treat AMR not as a technical issue, but as a national emergency that threatens the country’s public health, food safety, and export integrity. The complacency of institutions and the cosmetic nature of donor-driven programs must give way to tangible, enforceable, and evidence-based interventions.
Pakistan cannot afford to let antibiotic misuse silently erode its livestock economy and public health. The time to act is now — before our medicines lose their power, our exports lose their credibility, and our people lose their protection.
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