The North News
Chandigarh, November 18
Punjab’s Finance Department has approved the phased recruitment of 345 veterinary inspectors to address rising demand for animal healthcare services across the state, Finance Minister Harpal Singh said on Tuesday. Cheema said the Animal Husbandry Department has 2,010 sanctioned posts for veterinary inspectors, of which 345 are lying vacant. The government will fill 150 posts in the first phase during the 2025–26 financial year, with the remaining 195 to be recruited in 2026–27. The decision follows a meeting with the Punjab State Veterinary Inspectors Association, where officials highlighted growing pressure on staff as more animals seek treatment at the state’s 22 veterinary polyclinics.
Cheema, who also heads the cabinet sub-committee on employee issues, described the approval as a significant step towards improving animal health services. Punjab currently operates 22 polyclinics, 1,367 animal hospitals and 1,489 dispensaries. He said the phased recruitment plan would help maintain uninterrupted care for livestock owners and strengthen frontline veterinary services across rural and urban areas.
