Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) demanded of the government to impose ban on maize export in the up coming Trade Policy, which is going to be unveiled on 18th July. Dr Basher Ahmed Secretary General of Pakistan Poultry Association told Business Recorder that Pakistan is already in shortage of maize and further export would certainly create problems for the poultry industry.
Quoting the Federal Bureau of statistics, he said that Pakistan is producing 3.08 million tons, against its annual consumption of 4.28 million tons, having a shortage of 28 percent. He said that edible oil industries and poultry are the largest consumers of maize that requires 3.3 million tons annually, adding that the production of 5.51 million tons of poultry feed is consumed by approximately 10 million broilers breeders, 0.428 million layer breeders, 810 million commercial broilers and 29 million layers birds.
He said that in spite of the shortage, Pakistan export maize to Afghanistan and other countries of the Central Asia, which is unreasonable. He said that to fulfil their requirements, Pakistan was importing maize from India but now India has imposed ban on the maize export.
He said that if immediate ban is not imposed on the maize export, prices of the commodity would rise sharply and would certainly push up the cost of chicken and eggs. He said that with the increase in chicken and eggs, prices of mutton, beef and pulses would also increase. He asked the government to save the poultry industry from this imminent disaster and impose ban on the maize export in the trade policy.