ISLAMABAD - Solve Agri Dairy Institute(tm), the first-ever private sector dairy & livestock training & skills development institute in Pakistan, recently conducted a four days 'Livestock Emergency Preparedness Training programme in collaboration with Livestock & Dairy Development Department Punjab and Solve Agri Pak (Private) Limited (SAPPL) for the staff of LDDD, says a Press release. This training programme was designed to facilitate capacity building of livestock officials and equip them with the essential knowledge and skill-sets that would enable them to cope with any natural or man-made disaster. At a time where the countrys agriculture, livestock and related sectors have been devastated by ravaging floods, an emergency preparedness training programme is a definite need of the hour. In the aftermath of Pakistans worst ever natural disaster, few training institutes, public or private, have undertaken the bold step of conducting training sessions on this all-too-important subject, making all the more noteworthy. This training programme initiative by Solve Agri Dairy Institute(tm) primarily focused on the risks associated with natural and man-made hazards but also incorporated themes regarding the readying of an emergency preparedness plan, disaster response identification and disease outbreak handling among many others. The training sessions also placed special emphasis on adopting the recently developed LEGS (Livestock Emergency Standards & Guidelines) approach, which delineates International standards and guidelines for effective livestock based interventions during disasters. Saeed Ullah Khan, Head of Programs in Pakistan for Norwegian Rescue Committee, Dr Muhammad Rasheed, Deputy Director of Animal Disease Reporting & Surveillance Punjab, and Dr Waseem Shaukat, Head of Solve Agri Dairy Institute(tm), used their accumulated knowledge and practical expertise to conduct the training programmes. In addition, Laila Shahzad, DrYasmin Rashid, Dr Salah ud Din and Dr.Sajjad Zaheer Malik also shared their experiences related to disaster management. Speaking on occasion, Solve Agri Pak Limited Chief Executive Officer Haroon M K Lodhidrew from examples of the recent flash floods in Pakistan and the tsunami in the Asia Pacific region to illustrate the importance of preparing oneself against unforeseen natural disasters. He emphasized the importance of livestock in the rural economy and the role livestock plays in the livelihood of the rural farmer, stressing upon the importance of safeguarding livestock during natural calamities. He was confident that participants of the training programme would walk away with valuable insights and would implement the newly acquired knowledge and skills to minimise livestock related losses in emergency situations. The training sessions culminated with an auspicious certificate distribution ceremony on day four, with Dr Irfan Zahid, LDDD Director General (Extension), acting as Chief Guest on occasion. The training programme comes on the heels of Solve Agri Paks announcement of launching specialised dairy feed products under the name of Solve Agri Feeds(tm), introduced keeping in view the needs & requirements of dairy & livestock farmers for quality animal feed.