PESHAWAR — The prolonged closure of trade routes with Afghanistan has hit Pakistan’s poultry industry, triggering oversupply, sharp price declines, and financial losses for farmers and traders.
The Pakistan poultry industry relies heavily on exports to Afghanistan. According to Afghan media reports, Pakistan exports poultry products worth about $32 million annually to Afghanistan, including day-old chicks, poultry medicines, and live birds. The shutdown of the Torkham border has nearly halted those exports.
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Traders in Peshawar said the border closure disrupted shipments of chicks and other poultry products to Afghanistan. As a result, domestic production in Pakistan has exceeded local demand. Chicken prices have dropped and some farms have been forced to shut down.
Industry stakeholders reported that the halt in chick exports to Afghanistan left producers with surplus stock. Many chicks were wasted. To manage the glut, farm owners have cut production and, in some areas, suspended operations entirely.
The downturn has also affected retail prices. In Peshawar, chicken prices have fallen to about Rs. 300 per kilogram. Earlier this year, prices ranged between Rs. 450 and Rs. 500 per kilogram. While consumers benefit in the short term, producers warn that persistently low prices will deepen losses for farm owners and traders.
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Business leaders and poultry farmers are now urging the government to reopen trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They say restoring cross-border trade will revive business activity and protect the livelihoods of thousands of people employed in the sector.
The poultry sector is a key part of Pakistan’s agriculture economy. With exports stalled and domestic supply outpacing demand, industry representatives argue that immediate policy action is needed to prevent further damage.
