PRI pushes for poultry scheme's comeback

RAWALPINDI:

The Poultry Research Institute in Rawalpindi has submitted a new proposal to the Punjab government to revive the 'Murghi Paal' programme (Backyard Poultry Programme) initiated during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) era.

The summary notes that over the three-year span of the programme, approximately 1.5 million chickens were distributed across Punjab. The department reportedly earned revenue, while the public benefited from free eggs and access to desi (indigenous) chicken meat at home. It was described as a highly fruitful project.

Sources within the Poultry Research Institute told The Express Tribune that the programme is likely to be partially reinstated with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2025. A recent meeting held within the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department yielded positive feedback, which led to instructions for the submission of a detailed summary highlighting the programme's benefits and performance over its initial three-year run. In response, the summary has now been formally submitted.

According to sources, this time the programme may offer a set of six birds—five hens and one rooster—at a higher price than before. During the PTI government's tenure, a set of six birds was sold at Rs1,050 for two years and Rs1,140 in the third year. If the programme resumes on July 1, the same set is expected to be priced between Rs1,500 and Rs1,600.

The Poultry Research Institute operates a total of 12 poultry breeding centres across Punjab, located in Rawalpindi, Attock, Dina, Jhelum, Gujrat, Sargodha, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Bhakkar. These centres manage large-scale chick breeding operations to support such initiatives.