AVN Report
RAWALPINDI: The ‘Layer Poultry Farming’ subsidy initiative originally launched by Shehbaz Sharif in 2016, and continued by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government until 2022, has been revived by the Punjab government.
Under the scheme, registered citizens were provided with a set of five hens and one rooster, accompanied by a 30pc subsidy to aid beneficiaries.
During a recent visit to the Rawalpindi Poultry Research Institute, Punjab’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Dairy Development, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, ordered the reinstatement of the provision of subsidized egg-laying hens to farmers, stressing the importance of increasing the poultry population to meet the province’s rising demand for eggs.
Mr Kirmani reaffirmed the government’s resolve to support farmers and promote the poultry industry. He said that resuming this program would lower production costs and boost egg availability, thus making eggs more affordable for consumers.
He also instructed the institute to expand poultry numbers, enhance breeding efforts, and implement nutrition programs, highlighting the need for continuous research and development in the sector for sustainable growth.
“Farmers’ welfare is our top priority,” Kirmani said, underscoring the profitability of poultry farming and the growing market for ‘desi’ eggs in urban areas.
He called for proactive planning to meet winter egg demands, including modern training for farmers, assuring full government support.
In 2022, the Rawalpindi Poultry Research Institute distributed 91,000 chicken sets, a figure expected to rise this year. The institute also produced 450,000 eggs last year, resulting in 240,000 chicks.
During his visit, the minister also planted a sapling at the institute and inspected facilities, including feed supplies, poultry farms, hatcheries, and disease labs, ensuring adequate support for farmers.
The reinstatement of the layer poultry farming initiative is expected to invigorate the agricultural sector in Punjab, offering renewed opportunities for farmers and boosting the province’s poultry production.