Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has urged the government to hold a high-level probe to look into the causes of crisis like situation being faced by poultry sector after the news of bird flu virus in Karachi.
Chairman PPA, Punjab Zone, Abdul Basit told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that news pertaining to bird flu virus has badly hit the poultry industry, as sale of chicken in almost all urban areas of the country has started declining significantly.
Similarly, prices of chicken are witnessing declining trend. On farm price of chicken, which was Rs 55 per kg a few days ago has now decreased to Rs 35 per kg.
He said that there might be some groups, which are creating 'chicken fear' among the citizens just to fulfil their ulterior motives.
To a question, he said that the current situation might be created by a group of multinational companies or businessmen who are bent upon to discourage the use of chicken.
He said that PPA has arranged comprehensive laboratory tests of the affected chicken in Karachi.
Giving results of these tests, he said that disease hit by poultry in Karachi is different from the disease being faced by poultry in Thailand. He was of the view that H-7 and H-9 virus, which hit Karachi, has no tendency to transfer to human body.
He said that this virus has not yet come to Punjab where 73 percent poultry business is being carried out.
In order to avoid such situation in future, government must bring new legislation under which poultry farmers must only be allowed business on such places which are located at proper distance so that disease virus could not reach to other farmers through air.
Moreover, during a survey conducted by Business Recorder, it has been revealed that there has been significant decrease in the sale as well as prices of chicken.
The customers in different hotels were seen reluctant in placing orders for chicken. The federal and provincial health departments advised the people not to be afraid of bird flu.
Meanwhile, representatives of PPA including Raza Mehmood head of Consumer Education Board of PPA and Dr Mustafa Kamal, a poultry expert told newsmen that poultry disease accrued in Thailand is nowhere in Pakistan.
They added that Pakistan is not importing any chicken from Thailand, as Pakistan chicken industry is already surplus.
They said that eggs and chicken available in Pakistan are not harmful for human life as has been proved by laboratory tests.
At present around 500,000 workers are associated with poultry industry and not a single one was affected from the disease. Pakistani media blindly followed negative propaganda campaign, which was initiated by international media.
Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Arshad President Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association Punjab Zone told newsmen that government must provide financial assistance to the poultry farmers so that they can adopt measures for preparing long term plan for checking poultry diseases.
He also demanded of the government to set up laboratories at district levels.
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