Zero rated imports of doubtful Halal meat: 'government should provide level-playing field to domestic processors'

"The federal government should provide level playing field to domestic processors of poultry meat that are disadvantaged by subsidised and zero rated imports of doubtful Halal meat from Malaysia while domestic processors pay duties and sales tax on import of their inputs."
Pakistan Poultry Association's Standing Committee Chairman Khalil Sattar stated this while talking to members of the Lahore Economic Manufacturers Association here on Monday.
He said the government planners granted zero rated access to Malaysian processed chicken without consulting the poultry industry and that Malaysia granted a 15 percent rebate on the export of processed chicken making it cheaper than the Pakistani processed meat.
"It is unfair on the Pakistani processors that have to pay duties and sales tax on inputs like spices and packing materials," he rued.
He said with this concession fast food chains that were previously buying the Pakistani processed meat now import processed chicken from Malaysia or China that had also been granted the same zero rated concession.
He claimed that chicken birds in these two countries are slaughtered by paralysing them with electric shock or gas. He said the Sharia Board forbade paralysing before slaughtering.
He said this provides added advantage to Malaysia or China as if birds are slaughtered without paralysing it damaged many portions of wings.
"Slaughtering animals in the same portion where non-Halal animals are also slaughtered is banned under the Sharia while this is a routine practice in China. In addition there is no guarantee that poultry feed consumed by poultry birds is not contaminated with elements from pig wastage. This is because of the fact that China is largest consumer of pig meat in the world and its wastage is used for preparing poultry feed," he mentioned.
He also said another discrepancy is that poultry meat is allowed to be imported from India at a five percent duty while it is never impossible for Pakistan to export poultry to India since it had been placed by the Indians on sensitive list.
"It is unfair to allow one way trade when our items are practically banned in India," he added. He blamed the absence of government regulations for deterring Muslim countries from importing Halal poultry from Pakistan.