The Governor Punjab, Lieutenant-General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) has said that the government would give a sympathetic consideration to the poultry association's suggestion of lifting ban on serving one-dish at wedding ceremonies.
This was stated by him while speaking as chief guest at a seminar on "The Role of Poultry Industry in Economy", here on Tuesday. The seminar was also addressed by Nazim City District Government, Lahore, Mian Amer Mehmood, LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali, LCCI Senior Vice-President Abdul Basit, Professor of Medicine KE Medical College Dr Javed Akram, Dr Mustafa Kamal and Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association Raza Mehmmod Khurshand.
The governor also assured the poultry industry of his full support and said that the government is chalking out a strategy to bring the poultry sector out of crisis. He also said the government has taken necessary steps to cope with Bird Flu scare, which virtually has pushed this important industry of the country to the wall. Despite the fact that not a single Bird Flu case was reported in Punjab, the government has already formed committees under DCOs to look into the matter.
Nazim City District Government, Mian Amer Mehmood, while speaking on the occasion informed the participants about steps taken by the district government for the revival of poultry sector.
Professor of Medicine KE Medical College Dr Javed Akram in his address threw light on Bird Flu disease and said that there are no chances of spread of this disease to human kind. Nevertheless, chicken is very safe for human consumption.
President Pakistan Poultry Association Raza Mehmood Khurshand gave a breakup of the loss caused by the Bird Flu rumours in recent years. He urged the government to exempt the industry from all types of taxes for at least ten years besides announcing a relief package for its revival.
The LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali said that today poultry industry is the second biggest industry after textile. There are about 25,000 poultry farms in the country with an investment of Rs 100 billion. Almost every family in rural areas and every fifth family in urban areas is associated with poultry production activities one way or the other.
According to a conservative estimate, 700,000 tonnes of poultry meat and 60 billion eggs are produced annually. He said that the poultry industry in Pakistan has tremendous potential. It has a huge potential of making value addition, which is evident from the successful operation of world renowned food chains. The ban on serving of food in marriages has adversely affected not only the poultry industry but all the sectors of the economy. According to a rough estimate, circulation of about 400 billion of rupees has stopped in the economy due to ban on serving of food in the marriage functions.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Abdul Basit said that most of the members of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry are engaged in the poultry industry and their unanimous demand is that the problems facing the industry should be resolved immediately.
He said Pakistan is young nation with more than 45 percent of its population falling in less than 19-year old category. Cheap, clean and unabated access to protein is the biggest contribution of the poultry industry to the country's economy.
World's total production of meat is 252 million tonnes while poultry meat constitutes 32-percent of this production. In Pakistan, poultry meat constitutes 35-percent of the total production of meat. Interestingly pork constitutes 29-percent of world's meat production. At the end of the function, Governor Khalid Maqbool, Nazim City District Government Mian Amer Mehmmod ate various dishes of chicken to dispel the impression of Bird Flu.
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