LAHORE (February 14 2004): Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has asked the government to announce a "Special Relief Package" for the rehabilitation of crisis hit poultry sector of Pakistan.

In an interview with Business Recorder here on Friday, M. Yousaf Ihsan Khokhar Chairman PPA said that problems of poultry sector have become worst due to the false propaganda of bird flu by international media.

He said that in Pakistan, H-5 virus is not present which is communicable to human body.

Increasing news of bird flu diseases have decreased the sales of chicken in the country significantly which has compounded the misery of poultry farmers and retailers.

Yousaf explained that production cost of chicken is around Rs 35 per kg but the prices of chicken after touching the lowest level of Rs 8 per kg are still on a low level of Rs 25 per kg.

He claimed that poultry businessmen have suffered a loss of at least Rs 3 billion during a short period starting from January 26 to February 13, 2004.

He said poultry farmers are so hard pressed that some of them are even finding it hard to buy feed for the chicken at present the poultry industry is operating at only 40 percent of its potential.

He demanded of the government to declare Poultry Sector of Pakistan a calamity hit sector and this sector must be exempted from all kind of taxes including income tax, local tax, sales tax, custom duty etc.

He said that government must come forward for launching a special media campaign for educating people that Pakistani chicken is not hazardous for human health.

Courtesy Business Recorder