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Poultry Association suggests budget proposals-2008
SHR Jahfery
Islamabad—In order to ensure revival of Poultry Sector to meet the
requirements of Poultry meat and eggs of the human population which
is growing at an average rate of 2%, the following policy decisions
need to be taken immediately, failing which poultry sector would be
subjected to total collapse which implies collapse of Rs.200 billion
investment. Dr. Khalid Shouq Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association
made this appeal in a statement here and and observed that there has
been huge loss of Rs.30.000 -35.000 billion during 2006/07 due to
bird flu rumours to the Poultry Sector. The quantum of losses and
cumbersome modalities involved in compensation to Poultry Farmers.
It would be more advisable that interest free loans up to Rs. One
million be given and mark up should be picked up by the Government
as an incentive to small and medium size poultry farmers.
The Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, National Bank of
Pakistan and The Bank of Punjab to attract new investments to
sustain poultry farming also sanction the project loans on priority.
The Banks discontinued this facility long ago. Further loan granted
by National Banks to small and medium size poultry farmers be
written off to encourage poultry farmers to continue poultry
farming. He demanded that 50% Subsidy on imported Vaccination of
(H5N1) vaccine should be sanctioned. Vaccination of (H5N1) vaccine
in the areas, where there has been an outbreak of the disease (50
K.M around) is essential for poultry farmers. It is suggested that
3.000 Million doses should always be made readily available in
Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore to tackle the situation in
time.
He said that Law needs to be passed/enforced for ensuring
registration of new poultry farms. NOC for constructing new poultry
farms must be got through Secretary Livestock & Dairy Development
Deptts, of all provinces, in accordance with the suggestion that
distance at least 1 KM from another poultry farm to 3 KM from
hatcheries and breeding farms be assured. Proposed farm shall have
boundary wall, gate, bio security room at the gate and a mortality
pit in the premises of the farm. The small and medium size poultry
farmers who don’t have B-I or B-II connections and have lower loads
are charged 100% of the electricity consumption at the Commercial
Tariff A-II. Since they are in a productive activity, the
application of the Commercial Tariff is unjustified. It is therefore
requested that they should be charged at Industrial tariff as
Poultry industry is a segment of agriculture and same tariff which
is applied on tube wells be applied on poultry farms.
He noted that no public awareness campaign has been done by the
Govt. of Pakistan so far. It is suggested that handsome amount for
public awareness campaign be allocated in the budget bill so that a
comprehensive public awareness campaign is to be chalked out at
Government level to create awareness about Bird Flu amongst the
general public. It is also desired that special rebate be allowed
for advertisements on TV & Print media for public awareness on
nutrition related health issues. Import items should be exempted
from import duty as zero rated so that cost of production of poultry
products could be reduced:-
Building Plans approval Fee @ Rs.3.00 per Sq Ft, License Fee @
Rs.20,000.00 per Farm, Malba Fee @ Rs.3.00 per Sq Ft, Development
Charges @ Rs.5,000.00 per kanal, Professional & PropertyTax as per
Schedule are being charged by the provincial Governments, which are
irrational and unreasonable. These taxes should be exempted during
the current budget bill and 10 years tax holiday be sanction for the
poultry industry:-
He said that Poultry Industry is part of agricultural sector and is
regulated by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, therefore
it is not liable to be taxed under Urban Immovable Property Tax Act
1956 (U.I.P.T.Act) and is not covered under the categories
classified fro purpose of levy of property tax. Therefore Property
tax which has been recently levied on the poultry industry should be
withdrawn forthwith and Small Poultry Farmers should be given
incentives, like Small Agriculturists are exempted from all kind of
taxes, rather than strangulate it with oppressive and irrational
taxes.
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