March 30, 2006

Pakistan's poultry industry appeal to end ban on wedding meals

In Pakistan, brides and grooms have been banned from serving food at weddings since a bizarre law took effect in 1997. The poultry association of Pakistan hopes to change that.

In a letter to the prime minister, it has asked the government to repeal the law banning food at weddings to aid the ailing poultry industry after it incurred massive losses from recent bird flu scares.

In a letter presented to the prime minister by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Senior Vice President Abdul Basit said that the poultry industry got the first blow in 1997 when the then government imposed the ban.

The second shock came in 2003 when unsubstantiated rumours of bird flu drove consumers away from chickens. 

The letter said that millions are suffering due to the ban on wedding meals.

The letter labeled the ban as a conspiracy against the government and that it is raising unemployment while stagnating the economy and keeping out investment.

The letter further suggested that if the government is unable to allow serving of food at weddings, it should at least allow one dish.

In a not-too-subtle hint as to what that dish should be, the letter asked the prime minister to note World Health Organisation (WHO) observations that cooked chicken is safe for consumption while on the other hand, mad cow disease was believed to have originated from India, where Pakistan gets most of its beef supply.