LAHORE -  The Pakistan Poultry Association has served the defamation notice to District Health Officer to claim damage of Rs1 billion for his baseless observations over preparation of poultry feed in the Senate Standing Committee.

In the PPA legal notice served to the DHO Dr Muhammad Tahir, it was observed that he has inadequate, deceptive and incomplete information regarding the whole process of poultry feed. His irresponsible observation has caused the severe damage to the industry of billions of rupees. So he should clarify his statement, besides paying Rs.1 billion for damage to the industry, demanded PPA chairman Dr Aslam. He said that poultry farmers are not using growth hormones or steroids for a swift increase in the weight of chicken.

The reason for the rapid growth in chicken weight is actually the tremendous progress made in poultry genetics, nutrition, housing, management practices, disease control and disease eradication. The chicken available in Pakistan was genetically the same as was available in the US, Europe, India, Brazil, Argentina, China and elsewhere in the world. The chicken once considered a luxury has now become the cheapest source of animal protein in Pakistan, so it is absolutely safe to eat chicken which is full of vitamins and proteins. He said, “Industry has grown up to worth Rs750b and around 2.5m people are associated with it, generating direct employment for more than 1.5m people. Poultry at present contributes 40pc of the total meat consumption in the country.”