Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policy of providing chickens to poorer families can provide approximately Rs10,000 in extra income to a household per month, The Washington Post reported, citing livestock officials.
Experts at the Poultry Research Institute also believe that PM Imran’s policy of providing chickens to poorer families, even though the idea has been met with widespread derision, is effective.
“In Pakistan, 44 per cent of children under age five have stunted growth due to nutritional deficiency,” the institute’s director Abdul Rehman said.
“Our high infant mortality rate is associated with malnutrition in mothers. These eggs can add a healthy ingredient to their diets,” he added.
Livestock officials explain that five hens, laying several eggs each per week, can provide approximately Rs10,000 in extra income a month.
The research institute has also crossed “Desi” chicken breeds, which are in high demand across the country, with breeds from Egypt and Australia and Rhode Island reds to produce birds suited for surviving in backyards.
According to Rehman, the new birds can “can live in trees, in boxes or under people’s stairs” and are disease-resistant.
“They can eat kitchen scraps instead of expensive feed, and they can outrun predators like cats and foxes,” he added.
Last month, the premier, while addressing a ceremony at the Islamabad Convention Centre regarding the government’s performance in its first 100 days, had said that with the help of poultry, poverty could be eradicated from Pakistan.
He had said that the government would give eggs and chickens to the rural women so they can start their own poultry business. “The project has been tested and the government will provide injections to them for raising the chickens faster. This way they will have nutrient food for eating and more chickens and eggs to sell,” he had added.
Ever since his remarks caught the attention of people, especially netizens, floodgates for criticism had opened for the premier and his “lack of vision”.