Provincial Minister for Livestock and Cooperative Societies, Haji Hidayatullah Khan, inaugurated the first-ever poultry research institute in Mansehra in the Jabba area, on 6 June, according to The News of Pakistan.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Poultry Research Institute (PRI), the minister said the government had allocated 155.7 million rupees (PKR) for the project in the initial phase. He said because of the non-existence of such research institutions, the poultry industry – which is second to the textile industry in the country – had suffered badly but after the establishment of this institution, the industry will flourish in the country.

He said it is an agriculture country where over 70 per cent population depends on the agriculture sector directly or indirectly and 50 per cent population was affiliated with the livestock. He said that so far, PKR 100 billion has been invested to improve the livestock industry, which has suffered a number of crises.

He said over 3,500 small, medium and big poultry farms had been established in the province and out of which 60 per cent were in the Hazara Division. Mr Khan said regular courses for two to six months will be launched for students of matriculation and above to promote the industry for marketing and related field.