The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has raised strong objections to the government’s decision to maintain a Federal Excise Duty (FED) of Rs. 10 on day-old chicks, calling it a punitive measure that threatens the poultry sector and national food security.
PPA officials said the levy has increased production costs at the very start of the cycle, prompting some breeders to sell fertile eggs as table eggs instead of hatching them.
This reduction in chick placement could create a severe chicken meat shortage within six to eight weeks, pushing retail prices higher and limiting access to affordable protein for low-income households.
The association warned that Punjab, the country’s poultry hub, would be particularly affected. Small and medium farms risk going out of business, which could result in job losses, declining rural incomes, and wider economic distress in farming communities.
PPA Chairman Abdul Basit described the duty as a regressive tax that targets both producers and consumers, while Dr. FM Sabir highlighted the industry’s existing pressures from high electricity and feed costs. The levy, he said, could make chicken and eggs “luxury items” beyond the reach of ordinary Pakistanis.
The association demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FED and urged the government to engage with stakeholders to develop a stable, growth-oriented policy that secures affordable protein and supports the sustainability of the poultry sector.