Murghi Paal scheme faces the axe
Due to the worst financial crisis, the federal government will stop funds for the Murghi Paal scheme, an initiative of the erstwhile Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government which was briefly suspended by the incumbent government before resuming it with 50 per cent reduction in subsidy.
Sources said that the public-friendly scheme will be closed down in the Rawalpindi division from February 1.
According to the sources, around 0.15 million citizens had submitted applications to the Poultry Research Institute under the Murghi Pal scheme, however, these applicants will not be entertained from February 1.
According to the sources, from January 25 to January 30, the last batch of hens will be distributed among the citizens in Rawalpindi, before the Murghi Pal scheme will officially be terminated.
In this last batch, 300 sets of chickens will be distributed among the citizens. These sets will be distributed for only Rs1,180, which included five hens and one rooster, while 100 sets of 12 chickens will also be distributed. A subsidy of Rs450 was given by the government on the set of these chickens.
The scheme was started in 2019 on the orders of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Under the project, a total of 3 million birds had been distributed in 36 districts across Punjab in the last three years.
The Poultry Research Institute used to produce all these chickens under its own support. These hens and roasters were produced in 12 poultry centers of the Poultry Research Institute.
According to the sources, the in-charges of all these centers have been informed of the stoppage of funds and the breeding of chickens has been stopped.
Poultry Research Institute sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that the scheme will completely be stopped from February 1.
The sources said that it has been declared by the federal government that the economic crisis has become most severe and funds will no longer be released for the Murghi Pal scheme.
The current government had cut 50% of the funds for Murghi Pal, Kata Pal, Kata Farba schemes after coming to power in April.
The Poultry Research Institute sources said that the institution has informed all its applicant citizens about the closure of the scheme.
The sources said that after the success of the scheme, the Poultry Research Institute has now decided to start the scheme under self-help to increase its revenue.
New criteria will be prepared for this, according to which either the price of the set of hens and roosters will be increased or a set consisting of three hens and one roaster will be distributed instead of five hens and one roaster.
Poultry Research Institute sources said that hens usually start laying eggs two months after arriving at their owners’ place, averaging 220 to 250 eggs per year.
The poultry farms are located in Rawalpindi, Dina, Jhelum, Gujrat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Lahore, Attock, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2023.