The government is expected to impose restrictions on export of live animals, as price of meat is increasing everyday after the loss of two million animals in the flash floods. Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that Commerce Ministry has dispatched a summary to the Ministry of Livestock and Diary Development for comments suggesting that ban should be slapped on export of live animals.
Ministry of Livestock has the authority to issue licences for export of live animals in consultation with other stakeholders. The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting held on December 2, 2008 had decided that export of live animals be allowed, subject to "No-Objection Certificate" (NOC) from the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development.
The approval in principle was subject to checks and balances to be developed by Secretaries of Commerce and Livestock ministries. Accordingly, Ministry of Commerce was approached by the Ministry of Livestock, but no consensus on checks and balances has been reached so far, sources added. Commerce Ministry is of the view that registration of livestock farms, allocation of quota to individual exporters, registration of export contract for 45 days, and taking earnest money from exporters should be conducted by it through Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
As per past and existing practice, sources said, TDAP had never been involved in export of live animals. The current Export Policy 2008-09 states that export of live animals is allowed as per procedure and conditions as laid down by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (now Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development).