KARACHI, June 23: The scorching heat has played havoc at poultry farms as 3.5 million chicks, layers and broilers have lost their lives all over the country. In Sindh alone as many as 700,000-800,000 broilers died during the last two days, while there are reports that 250,000 to 300,000 layer birds have died in Karachi.

During the last two days when mercury touched over 40 degrees, poultry birds suffered the most. Poultry production suffers a blow as heat wave increases, said an expert.

“Hardly one per cent mortality was recorded after a huge production loss during the last two days,” said an official of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), Abdul Maroof Siddiqui, adding one or two per cent makes no difference if production of poultry products in 10,000-12,000 farms in the country is taken.

Regarding stability in prices, Abdul Maroof Siddiqui said as prices of poultry birds have not increased yet, its impact would be felt in the next one week or 10 days when weather would change slightly. Currently, the demand for chicken is on the decline. This is the main reason for stability in prices of poultry products, he added.

Mr Kamal Akhtar, general secretary of Karachi Wholesale Poultry Association, said the death of poultry birds in Karachi and its surrounding area is over 500,000. He was of the view that country-wide mortality of birds has been estimated at 3.5 million birds, including small and large.

The impact of mortality in birds on prices will be witnessed after a week, he added.