Govt to resolve poultry sector issues: Sikandar Bosan

Lahore : Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Malik Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said that the government will take up the poultry industry’s problems on priority and help the industry exploit its true potential.

He was speaking to the media and representatives of poultry industry at the inauguration of Pakistan Poultry Association’s (PPA) International Poultry Expo 2016 at the Expo Centre Lahore.

The minister said that the government was aware of duties, taxes and other issues that poultry industry is facing and it would look into the issue in the light of the Association’s recommendations. He said that the government was working for provision of level playing field for all industries and create a win-win
situation for the country and business, and the poultry industry’s contribution in this regard had always been encouraging.

To a question, the minister said that increasing the cotton yield was a top priority of the government to boost the agriculture sector and related industries. He said that globally, the prices of food crops were facing decline in the open market, affecting the countries like Pakistan. However, he added, the government was trying its best not to shift the burden of global effects to the growers. He said that the role of middle man would also be minimised to protect the farming community from exploitation.

He said that the government in the federal budget announced a historic package for the agriculture sector and general sales tax (GST) on farm inputs like fertilizers and pesticides was decreased to give maximum relief to growers.

To another question about the poultry industry, Bosan said that he raised the matter at a meeting in Islamabad recently, and the government was ready to fulfil genuine demands of the stakeholders.

Earlier, Founding Chairman of PPA Khalil Sattar said that poultry industry was faced with heavy losses because of higher input costs, which was due to higher import duty and sales tax. The greatest loss has been suffered by the poultry seed producing sector. He said the poultry sector has adversely been  affected by various taxes, which were restricting its growth.

Later, the PPA presented a souvenir to the minister.