ISLAMABAD – Chicken meat consumers in Pakistan are facing renewed concerns as an international media report has warned about the excessive use of antibiotics in the country’s poultry farms.
The report, published by the Financial Times, has also warned about the potential spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs.”
It said excessive antibiotic use in poultry farming could allow bacteria to develop resistance to medicines that are commonly used to treat infections.
A 2023 survey conducted in rural Punjab found that 60 percent of poultry farms surveyed were using antibiotics without prescriptions. The survey also found that antibiotics were being used at nearly half of the farms to promote chicken growth.
The report further claimed that some companies were adding antibiotics to poultry feed despite regulations prohibiting the practice.
The report warned that indiscriminate use of antibiotics can increase the likelihood of resistant bacteria surviving and multiplying. Such bacteria can become less responsive or resistant to medicines that are normally used to treat bacterial infections.
The findings have raised concerns for consumers because poultry is a widely consumed source of meat in Pakistan.
