Prior to 1963, the native "Desi" breed of chicken in Pakistan produced a maximum of 73 eggs per year. In 1965, the Lyallpur Silver Black breed was developed that could produce 150 eggs per year under favorable conditions. In the early 1960s, the need for commercial poultry farming was recognized to boost feed production. The government provided incentives like tax exemptions for poultry income and subsidized land and loans to encourage commercial poultry farming. Major policy changes from 1965-1975 facilitated research, extension services, and industry coordination to promote growth of the poultry sector in Pakistan.