Fake WhatsApp message on poultry ban worries sellers

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, June 8

A doctored image of what appears to be a notification of the state government regarding a ban on the sale of poultry products in the state is doing the rounds on social media much to non-vegetarians’ worry.

A notification purportedly issued by the Punjab Government had initially gone viral in Pakistani Punjab around five days ago. Pakistan media carried news about the viral message stating that it was fake news.

However, the same message with a copy of the doctored notification is also doing the rounds on social media in the state. The fake message from the deputy secretary reads, “I am directed to draw your attention towards a very sensitive issue and order immediate blanket ban on all poultry products in your respective districts.”

“While the poultry industry in the state is trying to come out from the losses incurred during the initial days of the lockdown, the fake message can confuse people,” said Rattan Singh, a poultry seller. In the initial days of the lockdown if the prices had gone down due to decrease in production, the increase in prices has become a problem. With chicken priced at Rs 300 per kilo, restaurants and hotels have either decreased quantity of the dishes or increased prices.