A delegation of Dairy Science Park (DSP), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan completed their consultation on Biorisk Management (BRM) with Sandia National Laboratoreis (SNL) USA at Columbo, Sri Lanka. The delegation of DSP was led by Mr Arif Yousaf, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Law/Convener Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and comprised Prof M Subhan Qureshi Chief Patron DSP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Dean FAHVS, Prof Umer Sadique, Dr Shoaib Sultan, Dr SB Khan, Dr Farhan A Khan, Dr Hamayun UAP, Prof Ghazala Yasmeen VC WUM, Prof Azam Kakar World Bank, Mrs Javed Farmer Sausage Co, Irfan Qureshi and Sadia Qurehi DSP, M Inam SSBU Sheringal, Dr Arshad PVMC, Prof M Rabbani UVAS and Dr Tayyab KMU. The Sandia team comprised Dr Melissa Finley, Mr Waleed Joyan and Ms Iris.

SNL-DSP collaboration is the first groups in the world to introduce Biorisk Management courses in DVM Syllabus. The three days consultative workshop was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from September 5th to 7th in which experts from various organizations in government, academia and the private sector participated.

BRM is a new concept of biosafety and biosecurity, protecting Lab. workers and environment from pathogens, respectively. A total of 8 semesters including semester 2-9 were identified in which BRM related courses will be introduced. With the incorporation of these BRM courses into existing DVM syllabus, DVM graduates will have an additional expertise in BRM will lead to safe and secure animal products, zoonosis control and public health. Besides this postgraduate syllabus for General, Veterinary and Medical universities have been developed which are already started in some universities. Establishing a Centre of Excellence of BRM will be the ultimate target which will be established at AUP, Peshawar which impart BRM courses in the region.

SNL has been supporting DSP in curriculum development for the last two years and four meetings have been held previously, at Amsterdam, Dubai, Bangkok and Phuket. A collaboration was initiated with Khyber Medical University, Peshawar under an MoU, signed by all concerned under the supervision of Prof Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The MoU intends to develop quality control standards for introduction into local livestock production, processing, marketing and services network, and for protecting public health. Two other MoUs were signed with Women University Mardan, and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal on Biorisk Management and Entrepreneurship.

At the concluding session Prof M Subhan Qureshi mentioned it as a great day, completing consultation on integrating Biorisk Management concerns into the DVM curricula at Pakistani Universities. He was pleased to mention that the global agenda of SNL on BRM was merged with the local agenda of DSP for food security, health security and economic empowerment of the youth, accepted by the United Nations as SDG Action 9671. DSP has successfully introduced postgraduate courses on BRM at UAP, KMU, Baluchistan University and BUITMS while WUM and SBBU are in the process of implementation. Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council has been taken on Board during the fifth consultative meeting and productive outcome it expected on their behalf.

Mr Arif Yousaf referred to the development agenda of the present government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, focusing on legislation for providing relief to the common people. He has been attending the DSP-SNL consultation through three consecutive meetings and was inspired from the aggressive consultative process forwarding the biorisk management agenda. He mentioned that a Task Force on Dairy Science Park has been suggested through a summary submitted to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for protecting small businesses on one side and consumer health on the other. It will hopefully, ensure entrepreneurship development for the unemployed youth and access of the consumers to Halal and Hygienic food. Mr Arif Yousaf invited the participants to the Fourth International Conference and Industrial Exhibition on Dairy Science Park at Konya Turkey on November 1-5, 2017.

Mr Azam Kakar presented traditional souvenirs to the delegates. Certificates of participations were distributed by the Sandia Team to the DSP delegates.