RAWALPINDI, May 21: The chief of World Poultry Science Association and leading poultry expert Dr Mohammad Sadiq has said the government should announce its poultry policy.

In a briefing here on Friday, Dr Sadiq said the poultry industry had lost whatever it earned over the years.

He said the poultry industry was responsible for providing jobs to millions of people. However, rumours of bird flu during the last couple of months had caused irreparable loss to the industry. The recent crisis resulted in thousands of poultry investors losing their investment of the last 20 years, he added.

He said the poultry science association had presented its recommendations to the finance ministry. He said the poultry industry had earned a lot, and until last year the rate of proliferation of the industry was about 10 per cent a year which was higher than any other industry.

He said the industry made Pakistan earn millions of rupees through poultry export. He said until last year, Pakistan was counted among the top ranking countries in the field of poultry producers.

He said as a result of these successes, the total investment in poultry industry had touched a mark of Rs60 billion. Dr Sadiq called upon the government to implement the recommendations of the poultry association.

He demanded of the government to announce 10 years tax exemption to enable the industry secure fresh investment. He also demanded waiving of taxes on the import of poultry machinery. He suggested interest free loans for small farms for poultry.