MULTAN, Feb 5: Poultry farming sector has suffered a loss of over Rs20 million in one week as a result of reduction in prices as well as low consumption of poultry meat due to bird flu scare.

Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Pakistan Poultry Association President Mir Tahir Ali Zaidi said: “We suffered a loss of Rs1,800 million in 2006 and Rs4,000 million in 2005 and now a loss of Rs20 million in a week which may swell to Rs1,000 million.”

He claimed the bird flu virus did not exist in Punjab and other parts of the country. A false panic and fear created among the people was affecting the industry, he said.

He advised people to use poultry meat and eggs without fear, adding all possible protective measures, including vaccination and disinfection of farms, had been adopted by the association.

According to him, there was no chance of bird flu now as the migratory season was over. He said that the samples sent to laboratories did not establish existence of H5H1.-—PPI