Standing Committee on Halal Meat Export of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Naseeb Ahmad Saifi urged the Punjab Government to help the meat exporting industry to overcome energy shortage problem through extending a 50 percent subsidy for installing bio-gas plants which will not only provide the industry round the clock power but also help increasing the halal processed meat export by two to three times from Pakistan.
It will earn the precious foreign exchange required to bridge our trade deficit and for spending on mega power and water storage projects. In a statement issued here on Friday, Naseeb Ahmad Saifi claimed that a German Company is willing to help the meat processors in provision of 0.5 mega watt of electricity by compressing bio-gas with the latest technology. Raw material for bio-gas is being produced in such a huge quantity in abattoirs of the industry which is being wasted. He appreciated the efforts of the government for meeting the energy crisis, retiring the circular debt and introduction of bio-gas and bio-mass electricity plants in the country especially in Punjab.
He said in such a situation industries those can produce electricity through their own raw material should also be encouraged by extending subsidy or giving matching grants to set up their own plants.
Naseeb stated that the government should contribute 50 percent of its total cost which comes around Rs8,090 million. He said that if price of this plant exceeds the present rate then industry would also bear that additional cost. He said by promoting this technology processing industry can not only get electricity and gas for its factories for next 25 years but also enhance exports by two to three times. In the meantime, Meat Sector should be exempted from load shedding and increasing electricity rates, he added. On financial requirement, LCCI Standing Committee Convenor said that the government should provide interest-free loans to Meat Exporters for 20 years because they are not in favour of doing business with involvement of interest.
He also called for stoppage of Livestock smuggling/export which is one of the most important causes of increase in prices. He said that the government must also stop slaughtering of female animals.
Overseas Pakistani should be encouraged by Government and Abattoir Owners for investment in livestock and dairy development so that the Halal Meat and Milk products can be available and exported in huge quantity and at economic rates, he added.
Tax deducted at source should be reduced up to 0.50 percent so that all exporters show their full value of export and whole tax could be submitted in national reserves. Legal export will be automatically increased, he was of the view.
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