May 2, 2006

Bird flu causing mutton, beef shortage in Pakistan

Bird flu is causing a meat shortage in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan as bird flu fears resulted in people shunning poultry and buying up beef and mutton. 

Prices of mutton and beef have skyrocketed as the effects of bird flu are felt in the region. Nine poultry farms have been hit by bird flu in the last two weeks, prompting prices of beef and mutton to go up by more than 50 percent during the same period. 

The smuggling of the livestock to Afghanistan, Iran and other neighbouring countries has also exacerbated the shortage of goats, cows and other cattle in the country.

Residents of the twin cities have stopped consumption of poultry meat due to bird flu fears.

Assurances from the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) and Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) to build confidence in poultry meat have also fallen on deaf ears.