Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Denmark-based International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) to strengthen efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country’s livestock and poultry sectors.
Under the agreement, ICARS will fund a three-year research project worth $540,855 to evaluate alternatives to antibiotics on 30 poultry farms, aiming to reduce antimicrobial use while protecting poultry health and farm productivity.
The agreement was signed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) and ICARS during a virtual ceremony attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, ministry officials, ICARS representatives and researchers.
Research Project to Cover 30 Poultry Farms
The project will be led by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with the Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi.
According to the project plan, researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial involving 30 poultry farms. Of these, 15 farms will receive the intervention, while the remaining 15 will serve as control farms.
The study will assess organic acids as a potential alternative to antibiotics and examine their impact on antibiotic consumption, antimicrobial resistance, poultry health and farm performance.
Researchers aim to reduce antimicrobial treatments by at least 20 percent without compromising productivity.
Minister Highlights Threat to Food Security
Addressing the signing ceremony, Rana Tanveer Hussain said antimicrobial resistance posed a serious threat to human and animal health, food security and agricultural productivity.
He emphasized the need for responsible antibiotic use, scientific research and evidence-based interventions to support sustainable livestock production.
The minister also appreciated ICARS and the Danish government for supporting Pakistan’s efforts to address antimicrobial resistance through the One Health approach, which recognizes the links between human, animal and environmental health.
He stressed that research initiatives must deliver practical benefits for farmers and contribute to the implementation of Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
ICARS Emphasizes Alternatives to Antibiotics
ICARS Executive Director Helle Engslund Krarup said the partnership would generate scientific evidence on alternatives to antibiotics and help reduce antimicrobial use and resistance in Pakistan’s poultry industry.
She highlighted the importance of continued leadership by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research in expanding successful interventions across the sector.
Rodolphe Mader, Senior Science Advisor for Veterinary Sciences at ICARS, explained that the project would evaluate the effectiveness of organic acids through a structured trial and examine their potential for wider adoption.
Study to Assess Costs and Benefits for Farmers
In addition to measuring changes in antibiotic use and poultry health, the project will evaluate the economic feasibility of adopting antibiotic alternatives.
The findings are expected to help policymakers and poultry producers determine whether the interventions can be expanded across Pakistan’s poultry industry.
The initiative will also support national research capacity and efforts to improve antimicrobial stewardship, helping promote more responsible use of medicines in animal production.
Concluding the ceremony, Rana Tanveer Hussain expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen research collaboration and contribute to the development of Pakistan’s livestock and poultry sectors.
