Pakistan’s poultry industry is facing a severe crisis, raising fears of a serious shortage of broiler chicken meat within the next two months, industry representatives have warned.
Speaking on the issue, Asif Gondal, General Secretary of the Broiler Farmers Association, said that rising taxes have made it increasingly difficult to maintain supply, especially during periods of high demand. He warned that if the current situation continues, broiler chicken meat could become hard to find in many areas.
According to Gondal, a cumulative tax burden of around 65 percent has now been imposed on poultry and chicken meat, placing immense pressure on farmers. He highlighted that while a chick itself costs less than Rs. 20, farmers are being charged Rs. 10 in tax per chick, making production financially unsustainable.
He said excessive taxation has pushed the poultry sector into deep trouble at a time when around 40 percent of children in the country already suffer from malnutrition, adding that access to affordable protein is being further restricted.
Gondal urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice of the looming crisis, warning that the upcoming shortage could be more severe than previous food supply issues. He pointed out that Pakistan once exported chicken meat, but is now facing growing domestic shortages. He added that before 2014, there was no sales tax on poultry, and production levels were significantly higher.
The poultry association has demanded that the government form a committee to negotiate with farmers and withdraw additional taxes. Gondal warned that if their demands are ignored, farmers will begin peaceful protests, and if the situation remains unresolved, poultry farms may be shut down altogether.
