Punjab govt plans to fix chicken meat prices

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Livestock and Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani on Thursday said that the Punjab government has planned to fix the prices of chicken meat in consultation with all stakeholder.

He met with the delegation headed by Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association Muhammad Nusrat in Lahore. The delegation also included representatives of Punjab Poultry Association, Poultry Traders Association and Broiler Farmers Association. The supply chain and prices of chicken were reviewed in the meeting. Further various options were considered regarding the mechanism for fixing the prices of broiler chicken. Secretary Livestock Punjab said in the briefing that in the last few days, the price of chicken meat had increased by Rs70 per kg. This trend of increase in chicken prices is alarming which is not due to demand and supply. In the meeting, Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association Muhammad Nusrat informed the Provincial Livestock Minister about the problems and concerns related to their business.

The minister assured them of solving the legitimate problems of Poultry Association on priority basis. He said that the first priority of the chief minister was to give relief to the people. She wants that the chicken should be available in the market at a cheap rate so that the common man can buy it, and at the same time, the chicken industry will not suffer from this rate but the industry will flourish.

The Punjab government plans to fix the prices of chicken in consultation with all stakeholders, he maintained. The government is ready to give 15 to 20 percent margin of profit on the production cost of chickens. The current rate of chicken is high, it should be reduced, the government will ensure the provision of facilities and ease of doing business to the poultry industry along with protection, he endorsed.

The minister directed the Livestock Secretary to fix a workable proposals and formula for determining the prices of chicken, the report of which will be submitted to the chief minister for final approval.

The Poultry Association delegation assured the provincial minister of full cooperation from chicken industry in relation to the reduction of chicken prices in support of the government. Apart from Additional Secretary Livestock Dr Usman, DG Livestock (Research) Sajjad Hussain also participated in the meeting.