"Standard of poultry facilities in Pakistan is as good as in any European country," this was stated by a four-member Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) technical delegation in a meeting with senior officials of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) presided over by Seerat Asghar Secretary MNFSR here on Friday.
The Saudi Technical delegation had earlier visited different poultry farms to inspect standard of poultry facilities. The delegation also visited National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases and National Veterinary Laboratory situated at National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad and expressed satisfaction over their standard. It is to be noted that Saudi Arabia had suspended import of hatching eggs and day-old chicks from Pakistan in 2005-06 due to eruption of Bird Flu disease in Pakistan. 
During the meeting, Seerat Asghar apprised of delegation about various preventive and precautionary measures undertaken by Pakistan to successfully contain H5NI virus in the country since 2005. The Secretary also apprised that a successful "National Programme for the Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza" was launched for control of the disease. The Secretary also informed about various measures undertaken complying with international standards to modernise poultry industry infrastructure and facilities. Asghar further stated that due to concerted efforts and hard work Pakistan declared freedom from Bird Flu disease with effect from September 22, 2008, and since then poultry industry has been growing at an annual rate of 13%, hoping that Saudi Arabia may soon restore import of poultry products from Pakistan.
The dignitaries on both sides also agreed that there is a great potential of trade in the areas of poultry and livestock between the two countries. Both sides also agreed that there is a need to further strengthen bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries.-PR
Source: Business Recorder
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