PESHAWAR, Feb 1: No outbreak of bird flu has so far been reported in the country's northern parts, an official communique states.

The NWFP's livestock department in a letter sent to the provincial government said it had taken adequate measures to cope with any eventuality in an effective manner.

It stated that the province was free from poultry diseases, including bird flu. "No report has been received about the outbreak of this disease. All assistant directors of the livestock department have been asked to be vigilant in case of an outbreak. Any report of outbreak must be intimidated".

Highlighting the department's preparedness in this regard, a spokesman for the livestock department said that the department had carried out inoculation of animals, including chickens in the last week of December 2003.

It was learnt that poultry sales in the province had declined considerably, especially broiler chickens, after reports of an outbreak in southern Pakistan.President of the Muttahida Poultry Market Association Niaz Gul, while confirming the absence of bird flu cases in the NWFP, said that there was no need to panic, adding that the disease was confined to chickens laying eggs and did not affect the broilers.

Ruling out the possibility of the spread of the disease in the NWFP, he expressed optimism regarding increase in the sale of chickens after Eidul Azha. Zulfiqar, a retailer, said that the sale of chickens had dropped by almost 90 per cent, adding his current sales had come down to five kilogram's of broilers a day from 30 and 40 kilogram's a day.

He said consumers were worried, adding it would take time to remove their apprehensions. Shakir, another retailer, said: "I have so far sold only 10 kilogram's out of a broiler stock weighing 100 kilogram's," he said. He attributed the decline in sale on rumours of the spread of disease, the ban on its movement to Afghanistan and upcoming Eidul Azha.-APP