Faisalabad, October 1, 2025: The Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science (FVS), University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), successfully organized the 4th One-Day Hands-on Workshop on Arthropods and Arbo Diseases on September 30, 2025, under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Vice Chancellor, UAF, and the convenership of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sohail Sajid, Principal Investigator and Chairman of the Department.
Held in the FVS Conference Room, the workshop was conducted under the umbrella of the research project titled “Surveillance of arthropods and arthropod-borne diseases of one health significance at the host-vector-environment interface at various agro-geoclimatic zones of Punjab, Pakistan,” funded by the Endowment Fund Secretariat, UAF (Project No. RD 045/22).
Expert-Led Technical Sessions
The event featured two technical sessions. Prof. Dr. Mazhar Ayaz, Vice Chancellor of Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. He highlighted the growing importance of arthropods and arboviral diseases in Pakistan’s livestock sector and emphasized the need for long-term, collaborative research strategies.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sohail Sajid provided an in-depth overview of the project, sharing experimental designs, key findings, and future recommendations. He advocated for a transdisciplinary research model to ensure optimal utilization of resources in addressing vector-borne disease challenges.
Dr. Zia-ud-Din Sindh, Associate Professor, discussed practical control strategies and research hurdles in arthropod management, while Dr. Muhammad Saqib, Chairman, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery (CMS) and Co-PI of the project, demonstrated the prevalence of arthropod-borne pathogens in Pakistan through molecular diagnostic tools.
The session was moderated by Dr. Muhammad Imran, Assistant Professor, and also featured participation from Dr. Muhammad Kasib Khan as Postgraduate Advisor. The PI presented souvenirs to dignitaries, while the Chief Guest and Dean, FVS, distributed certificates to the participants.
Hands-On Training Session
The second session featured practical training on modern surveillance tools. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Malik, Lecturer, Riphah College Faisalabad, and Dr. Muhammad Zeeshan, Lecturer, Riphah CVAS, Lahore, led sessions on using participatory epidemiological tools and QGIS software for pathogen surveillance and data visualization.
Ms. Sadia Ghazanfar delivered a presentation on the role of reservoir hosts in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, underlining the One Health significance of integrated vector management.
Diverse Participation and Collaborative Spirit
Participants included postgraduate students from the Department of Parasitology and other departments within UAF, along with nominees from institutions such as CVAS Jhang, UVAS Lahore, CVAS Narowal, CUVAS Bahawalpur, and Government College University, Faisalabad. The event also provided networking opportunities through working meals and tea breaks.
The workshop concluded on a high note, with a collective commitment to continue impactful research in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner, aligned with the One Health approach for the betterment of animal and public health in Pakistan.
