'Annual egg consumption not satisfactory in Pakistan'

Pakistan poultry industry is producing 10,710 million table eggs annually and the annual egg consumption in Pakistan is only 55 to 60 per person per annum which is far below than the annual consumption of 300 eggs per person suggested by the experts.
"Efforts should be made to make people cognisant of the fact that egg is a complete diet to increase egg consumption and to ensure the good health of our people since only a healthy generation can take a country to the pinnacle of progress and prosperity," said Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA-Northern Zone) Chairman Arshad Hanif while addressing a press conference here on Friday evening.
PPA organised this event in connection with the "World Egg Day". Hanif said egg consumption level in the developed countries meets the level suggested by the experts. However, the annual egg consumption is not satisfactory in Pakistan. He said PPA is celebrating this day by organising seminars at different places to make the general public aware about the nutritional value of egg and its importance in human diet.
The need is to understand that egg is a complete diet and replete with the best kinds of protein, vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, the importance of protein in the growth of human body and brain also highlights the real value of egg as an essential item of daily meal.
PPA claimed that poultry sector is one of the most organised branches of the agro-based sector of Pakistan. Poultry sector has been serving the nation since 1962 and providing affordable poultry products to the masses to fulfil the requirements of animal protein. Poultry at present contributes 40 percent of the total meat consumption and generates employment and income for about fifteen hundred thousand people.
He also claimed that cheapest available meat protein source for our masses and as such, is an effective check upon the spiralling animal protein prices also. "We are producing 10,710 million table eggs and 1,074,000 tonnes chicken meat annually. In Pakistan per capita consumption of meat is only 6kg and 60-70 eggs annually." Whereas, according to standard requirement 25-28kg meat and 250-300 eggs are to be consumed by each person.
While replying to various questions, poultry leaders including former PPA Chairmen Khalique Arshad and Abdul Basit said that chicken meat prices are governed by demand-and-supply mechanism. He said that present rates of chicken meat are also lower than the production cost. This price is indicative of the fact that production is more than the supply in the country, they added.