A serious rinderpest epidemic hit Pakistan from 1990 to 1995, triggering an extensive programme of checks to eradicate the disease. The last cases of rinderpest were detected in Pakistan in September, 2000.

Rinderpest is a highly fatal viral disease of domestic cattle and buffaloes. It also affects sheep, goats and some breeds of pigs and a large variety of wildlife species.

Pakistan, which exported livestock valued at 53 billion rupees ($914 million) during fiscal 2000/01, faced export restrictions in many parts of the world because of rinderpest.

Rind said he hoped the country's livestock sector, both production and exports, would flourish now that rinderpest had been eradicated.

"Our livestock suffered heavy losses due to this disease during the last decade...This announcement will have a long-lasting effect on our livestock sector in terms of production and trade," he added.

Rind said the country would launch another programme soon to control foot-and-mouth disease, which he said affected only a tiny number of animals in Pakistan.