May 4, 2004

Pakistan Poultry Prices Soar Due To Supply Shortage

Poultry prices in Pakistan have skyrocketed since the bird flu scare spread in the city, affecting the poultry industry and forcing farmers to clear their stocks by bringing down supplies, said the industry sources on Friday.

The rise in poultry prices has also affected the prices of beef, mutton, vegetables and pulses, which have also gone up by 10 percent.

Saadullah from Tollington Market said the clearing of stocks caused a scarcity in the market and retailers were supplying undeveloped chickens, which would also push the country into a crisis.

Agha Shehzad of Libra Party Decorators and Caterers said such a rapid increase in a short span of time was harming his business.

The president of the Pakistan Poultry Association in the Punjab, Abdul Basit, said the industry had already demanded smart loans and grants for poultry farmers, a 10-year income tax exemption, relaxation in utility rates and reduction in local taxes.

He said the government did not take any steps to help the industry, which has suffered a Rs 4 billion loss. He said the industry would not survive without the government's help.

Mr Basit said 300,000 workers are associated with the industry that produces 0.45 million metric tonnes of chicken, which is less than total demand.

Of total chicken production, 73 percent was being produced in the Punjab and 3.5 million chickens were being consumed in Lahore only. He said the association was trying to survive on its own.