SIALKOT, Jan 28: The prices of chicken and egg have registered decrease in many districts of the Punjab following official confirmation that influenza virus had hit poultry in Sindh.

Poultry farmers and breeders in the Sialkot district are finding it difficult to dispose of their stocks. Two days ago chicken was being sold for Rs70 per kg, now there is no buyer even at the rate of Rs35 per kg. The prices of day-old chicken have also come down to Rs11 from Rs22 per bird.

In the open market, the prices of egg fell from Rs40 to 28 per dozen, and chicken (live) from Rs60 to 50 per kg. Wholesale dealer Bilal Manzoor Chaudhry said that more than 50 per cent of the customers bought chicken and eggs on Tuesday and Wednesday after confirming that the epidemic had not been detected in the Punjab.

Sialkot DCO Capt Zahid Saeed (retired) said that the district administration was keeping a vigil on the situation. "The agriculture and livestock departments have started vaccinating the chickens and so far no case of the virus has been reported from any part of the district."

GUJRANWALA: Most residents of the city have stopped purchasing chicken and eggs after hearing the news about the spread of birds flu in Sindh. Poultry farmer Sajjad Ahmad Rana said here on Wednesday that people were avoiding chicken though experts have clearly said that the virus has not been detected in the Punjab. He said that the consumers and media have over-reacted to the news.