PM Imran hits back at those mocking his chicken plan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday responded to criticism of his proposal to eradicate poverty from the country with the help of poultry.

Addressing a ceremony to mark his government’s 100 days in office, PM Imran on Thursday said the government will give eggs and chickens to rural women so they can start their own poultry business. “The project has been tested and the government will provide injections to them for raising the chickens faster. This way they will have nutrient food for eating and more chickens and eggs to sell,” he had said.

In 2016, Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates had explained why chickens are the ultimate solution to poverty.

Gates had announced his foundation's partnership with Heifer International, a charity focused on donating livestock to poor families around the world, and had also posted on his personal blog noting, “I’ve met many people in poor countries who raise chickens, and I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of owning these birds. (As a city boy from Seattle, I had a lot to learn!) It’s pretty clear to me that just about anyone who’s living in extreme poverty is better off if they have chickens.”

“In fact, if I were in their shoes, that’s what I would do — I would raise chickens,” Gates had said and explained that birds are easy and inexpensive to take care of, are a good investment, keep children healthy and empower women.

However, PM Imran’s “chicken plan” met much criticism on Twitter. 

In response to the criticism, the premier took to Twitter to share an article regarding Gates' chicken plan and wrote, "For the colonised minds when desis talk about chickens combating poverty they get mocked, but when 'walaitis' talk about desi chicken and poverty it's brilliance!"

Earlier today, the PTI also tweeted in support of the premier's plan and said, “Microsoft founder @BillGates launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in Africa by giving them chickens. However, when PM Imran Khan talks about it, it becomes an issue.”

“Propagandists really can't rise above their hate!” it added.

Here’s how Twitter had reacted to the proposal: