A special meeting of the high-level committee established by the Secretary Livestock & Dairy Development, Government of the Punjab on “Poultry nutrition – past and present scenario with future prospects & situation analyses of poultry sector” was held on February 23, 2023 at the main campus of the University of Education, Lahore, township, which was chaired by the convener of the committee, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha (S.I.) while the members from Pakistan Poultry Association Chaudhry Muhammad Nusrat Tahir, Dr. Abdul Karim Bhatti, Dr. F. M. Sabir, Major (retd.) Javed Bukhari, Tariq Javed, Convener Poultry Feed North Zone Ahmad Hasan, Associate Professor of Veterinary University, Lahore Dr. Ehsan Ullah Khan, Expert on Agri Business & Economics, Faculty of Business, UVAS, Lahore Prof. Rana Muhammad Ayub, Divisional Director Livestock, Sargodha Dr. Rana Wajid Arshad and others attended the meeting.

In the meeting, the situation of poultry in Pakistan and in Punjab during last five years in terms of supply of feed, production of chicken and chicken meat, its supply within Punjab and supply from Punjab to other provinces was reviewed. On this occasion, the participants analyzed the situation caused by the ban on the import of GMO soybeans used in poultry feed and gave suggestions for a better solution to this issue. The committee will submit report to the government within 7 days to improve and facilitate poultry production. Addressing the meeting, Convener Committee and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Talat Nasir Pasha (S.I.) said that the government is taking vigorous steps to meet the requirements of meat in the country according to the principles of health protection, for which this department committee has also been formed consisting of poultry experts, so it is our national duty to play a role in ensuring the supply of quality and economical chicken by expressing the sentiments of the nation. He said that the committee will examine the reasons for affecting the supply of chicken and the increase in prices in the recent past and will also make suggestions, which can be implemented to save the country, especially Punjab, from any such situation in future.