Government taking steps to strengthen poultry industry

Poultry industry is doing normal business and an upward trend in poultry prices is being noticed.
This was stated by head of Animal Sciences Division, Pakistan Research Council, Ministry of Food and Agriculture Dr M. Afzal while speaking in a PTV programme.
He said: "There is no threat of transmission of bird flu to humans and poultry meat and eggs are safe for consumption."
He clarified H-7 and H-9 influenza virus that had affected poultry in the country was not harmful for humans. Dr Afzal said, keeping in view the poultry crisis, adequate measures have been taken to deal with any situation.
"Precautionary measures are also being advised to the farmers to secure their product," he added.
He said, the government would set up a laboratory for poultry research at a cost of Rs 32 million for which approval has been given.
The laboratory will provide all kinds of information to poultry businessmen to control chicken diseases, he added.
He said, another project with a cost of 0.4 million dollars will be initiated to facilitate the poultry industry.
Dr Afzal said: "The industry has come out of the crisis as the prices of poultry are going up." Under different estimates, the poultry industry incurred about Rs 4.3 to 15 billion loss due to bird flu rumours in the country, he added.
Answering a question about WTO, he said, "it will not create any problem for the poultry industry."
He said: "The government is giving due attention for promotion of poultry industry and many required steps have been taken in this regard".