400 flocks of chickens distributed among deserving people

The Islamabad capital territory (ICT) administration's livestock department has distributed around 400 flocks of chickens among deserving people under Prime Minister Imran Khan's 'Murghi Paal’ scheme.

A ceremony in this regard was held here at Tarlai Civil Veterinary Hospital, where people received poultry birds at 30 per cent subsidised rates.

One flock consists of five hens and a rooster.

ICT Director Agriculture Waqar Anwar said that the initiative aimed at supplementing family incomes through the sale of organic eggs and chickens besides creating employment opportunities.

The ICT livestock department and dairy development board, he said, were providing training to people to gain maximum benefit from the scheme.

He said the chicks were 90 days old, fully vaccinated and they would start laying eggs in a week or two.

“The birds do not need a special diet rather they can be raised on kitchen waste, vegetables, bread crumbs, rice leftovers, fruit peels, etc,” he said adding that under the initiative, some 2,000 bird flocks would be distributed among deserving individuals during the ongoing year.

The ‘backyard poultry' initiative’s target was women and people living in rural areas, he said adding that the scheme has received an overwhelming response from the public.

Talking about the details of the distribution process, he said people may submit applications at their nearest veterinary hospitals and once applications were received, computerised balloting was held.