February 9, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 10, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: The government should put the marriage ordinance before the parliament for final approval and allow at least one-dish meals to save the country’s poultry industry.

This was stated by officials of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) and senior executives of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in a joint meeting held at the chamber’s offices on Wednesday.

RCCI President Jalil Ahmed Malik presided over the meeting which was attended by office-bearers of PPA and the RCCI members.

The participants of the meeting said ban on serving meals in marriages had destroyed the poultry industry and forced poultry farmers to wind up their business. This has also threatened the jobs of millions of people involved with this industry directly and indirectly, they added.

Denouncing the reports about bird flu in Pakistan, they said some mischievous people were causing panic to destroy the poultry industry.

“Poultry industry is the second biggest industry of Pakistan, contributing very high to national exchequer besides providing jobs to a huge population,” they said.

The participants said Pakistan imposed a ban on import of poultry and poultry products from more than 18 bird flu affected countries which saved the country from this killer disease.

“It is unfortunate that many Gulf and middle eastern countries have imposed ban on poultry products from Pakistan, and the government should handle the matter to restore the export.”

They said export of poultry and poultry products to Afghanistan was also stopped as the Afghan government had also banned it. This would be a great set back for the industry and would render many jobless, they added.

The participants said they would file a case against Wapda in Nepra for declaring the electricity tariff as commercial instead of industrial.

Speaking on the occasion, RCCI President Jalil Ahmed Malik said the poultry industry was facing various problems for the past few years due to various government measures and bird flu.