KARACHI (February 08 2004): Poultry business has suffered badly in Karachi due to bird flu as 70 percent decline has been recorded so far in the sale of poultry products and around 50,000 people associated with this business are under the threat of losing their jobs.

Poultry business has currently around Rs 60 to 70 billion investment and almost all poultry farms are located in the suburban areas of the city. Major portion of population of these areas is associated with the poultry business.

People associated with poultry industry fear that if situation remains the same and decline in the sale of poultry continues, the whole industry might collapse, rendering thousands of people jobless.

Dr Zafarul Islam Siddiqui, member of Poultry Association of Pakistan, talking to PPI said that main reason for decline in the sale of poultry products was media hype which prevented people from consuming poultry products.

He dispelled the reports that human beings could contract bird flu by consuming the chicken and said that no medical reports had so far suggested such health hazard by consuming chicken infected with Avian Virus.

"Sale of poultry products now stands much below as 70 percent decline has been reported so far in the sale of poultry products as compared to sale recorded before the attack of Avian Virus," Dr Zafar said.

He said that currently no data has been collected about the financial losses suffered by attack of virus. However, according to general estimate, financial losses touch the figures of about two to three billion rupees.

The PAP member pointed out that protein source gap would emerge due to non-consumption of poultry products as these are the major source of protein in human body and deficiency of protein could have serious health hazards.

He dispelled the impression that human being could get infected by Avian Virus as not a single case has ever been reported about the death of any person by Avian in the history of country.

He termed them merely speculations based on the media reports without having any authentic record and history of this virus.

'Government health departments have started their work to prevent further spread of this virus in poultry and to inform public that Avian Virus infected poultry products does not have any health hazards," Dr Zafar added.

He referred to Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) efforts for creating public awareness in this regard.

Courtesy Business Recorder