The All Pakistan Meat Processors and Exporters Association (APMPEA) have urged the government to extend a support package to its members so that they could make their presence felt in the US $2.3 trillion international halal market. "We as a Muslim country can grab a significant share of the international halal market, which is currently dominated by the non-Muslim countries, such as Brazil, India, China and others. The current situation is due to apathy shown by government departments towards domestic halal food exporters, especially meat exporters," said APMPEA Chairman Nasib Ahmad Saifi while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday.
Spelling out the impediments, he said that the exports are hindered by slaughtering of female animals (hence endangering animal population) and smuggling and export of live animals instead of exporting value added products. He was more worried about the non-cooperative attitude of quarantine offices and their officials towards the exporters. "These impediments are holding back meat exports from Pakistan," he added.
Saifi recently submitted a set of proposal to the Federal Secretary Food Security, which proposes that the quarantine office should remain open round the clock and issue quarantine certificates for consignments whenever it is needed. 'In modern world the animal quarantine departments are linked with slaughter houses for animal health data sharing to know the reasons of animal rejection. It helps to identify onset of any animal disease outbreak. Similar kind of mechanism in Pakistan can contribute significantly towards improving the livestock health and safeguarding the farmers from financial suffering due to prompt information based action by authorities concerned,' Saifi added.
Keeping in view the perishable nature of the processed halal meat and other products and specific dynamics of meat export business, he said animal quarantine offices should be housed near slaughter houses. Present office in Lahore is situated near a very congested residency and at least some 65KM far from slaughterhouses. 'We also need extended working hours as consignment can be ready at any time and exporter may need certificate or other support of the quarantine office. Presently these offices observe five days a week schedule and also remained closed on all gazette holidays.'
The situation being faced by exporters could be explained through one case: A chilled chicken consignment for UAE possesses 3 days shelf life. A consignment unable to find space in any flight for UAE on Friday will consume its whole shelf life before being exported only due to unavailability of quarantine service on weekend. He suggested the quarantine facility should remain open round the clock to promptly cater all consignments being loaded at availability of flights at different hours of day and night.
Complaining about the behaviour of Quarantine Officers, he termed it non-cooperative rather rude. They seemed least interested in boosting the halal meat export. They are not exporters friendly and have no time for exporters to solve their problems, he alleged.
It is usual practice that the consignment inspected and booked at one flight is offloaded/missed from dispatch due to space unavailability or any other reason. Such incidents do not happen because of any fault or negligence of exporter but because of availability of space. However, the quarantine department again charges fee on inspection on the same consignment ready to be loaded on next available flight. This double charging on same consignment should be abolished, he requested.
Saifi concluding his discourse said that the halal meat export industry which is in its infancy in Pakistan but competent enough should be given due priority. Various privileges such as zero rated taxation, facilitations and relaxations in various phases of production, transportations and export should be given to Halal Meat Exporter of Pakistan enable them competing in global market with more courage and confidence. Halal Meat industry has a potential of expanding the meat export four folds in no time. This can only be possible if Government of Pakistan provide patronage to this extremely neglected industry as well, he concluded.
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