Punjab urged to lift price cap on poultry

The Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Poultry Association (North Region), Malik Muhammad Sharif, has warned of a massive shutdown of poultry farms across Punjab due to the government-imposed price cap on chicken meat.

He highlighted that the poultry sector, which provides 40% of the country's meat and employs approximately 1.5 million people, is heavily impacted by the decision. Prices of poultry products are driven by supply and demand, seasonal variations, Islamic festivals, diseases, inflation, and load shedding. These factors naturally regulate prices, which are beyond the control of farmers or the public sector.

Sharif stressed that government intervention disrupts this balance and negatively affects the industry. "Any interference, such as price fixing, leads to crises, forcing farmers to shut down their businesses," he said.

He criticised Punjab's decision to fix chicken meat at Rs600 per kg, with no lower price limit. As chicken is a perishable product, farmers face significant losses, with a single shed incurring losses of Rs5.5 to Rs6 million.