During the last 35 years or so, poultry farming has emerged in Pakistan as an important sub-sector of livestock with a sustained average growth rate of 8 to 10 per cent pr annum. This expansion continues to fulfil the protein requirements. Quite appreciably, Punjab province contributes almost 73 per cent of poultry production activities in the country.
The spectacular growth rate In poultry production sector in the country has undoubtedly increased the challenge of diseases, enhanced the cost of poultry feed and other inputs and proper production of poultry products meeting international standards of food security under WTO regimes which requires great emphasis on the aspect of regulatory control in poultry production sector.
But somehow, the aspect of regulatory control has remained out of focus. Due to non-existence of regulatory framework , poultry farms had been and continue emerging like mushrooms and the control of poultry diseases has become difficult resulting in heavy economic losses. The representative body of poultry entrepreneurs i.e. Pakistan Poultry Association has been demanding (for quite some time) the formulation of regulations for the registration and regulation of existing and new poultry premises, maintenance of proximity of different poultry farms, management of issues of bio-security or health concern and to ensure poultry feed quality being the major input of the business.
The Punjab Government has done well by responding positively to the long standing demands of the Pakistan Poultry Association and got essential legislation of Punjab Poultry Production Act 2016 done through the Provincial Assembly recently to regulate the poultry production activities in the province for the benefit of all stake holders. Quite obviously, the newly introduced legislation implementation will help to safeguard the poultry sector from emerging challenges and the growth in the sector will be maintained to meet the domestic needs of poultry products and to explore and avail export opportunities as well.
All this surely augurs well for the important poultry farming sub-sector, regulating and checking mushroom growth of poultry farms and the end users of poultry products will certainly be happy over provision of of quality products.
Asmaar Bilal
LAHORE
