LAHORE, Aug 26: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has said that the government will provide all possible assistance for modernising the poultry industry to eliminate chances of spread of fatal diseases.

Speaking at the concluding session of the two-day International Poultry Congress organised by the Pakistan Poultry Association here on Saturday, the governor said public-private partnership was required for promotion of the industry and increase in its production.

He said poultry was an important industry of the country providing livelihood to over 1.2 million people. The industry had been seriously affected during the past six months as a result of bird flu scare. The government would advance soft loans to poultry farmers and set up laboratories for diagnosis of diseases and production of bird flu vaccine in collaboration with the association.

He said it was heartening that the industry had revived with the assistance of the poultry association and the government. Poultry farmers should now improve their farm management and increase production to enable them to meet the growing demand for chicken meat on the one hand and keep the prices stable on the other.

He said 100 per cent increase in production during the past six years had proved that poultry industry had an enormous potential for growth. Permission of serving one-dish on marriage parties would facilitate growth of the industry and help in creation of new job opportunities.

Pakistan Poultry Association chairman Raza Mahmood Khursand, Punjab livestock secretary Babar Yaqub Fateh Muhammad and regional income tax commissioner Haji Ahmed also addressed participants of the congress. —Reporter