Pakistan's poultry farmers reject VAT

The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has rejected the value added tax during a protest meeting held at District Council Rest House Kallar Kahar, Chakwal on Saturday (May 22).

The speakers were of the view that the poultry industry had just recovered from the bird flu and the value added tax would force 40% of the farmers to shut their business. Dr Aslam said that General Sales Tax was imposed in 1996 on the poultry industry, which was withdrawn with the hectic efforts of the PPA.

PPA former chairman Qazi Muhammad Akbar said that the value added tax was being imposed on the directions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said that if the tax was imposed, the poultry meat would increase between PKR 10-PKR 15 (US$0.12- US$0.18) per kilogramme. It was decided in the meeting that the PPA would be extended at the district level and the Association of Poultry Farmers would be organised at the district level.