All Pakistan Meat Exporters & Processors Association (APMEPA) Chairman Nasib Ahmad Saifi has reiterated the demand of putting a complete ban on export of live animals and curbing the smuggling with an iron hand to ensure ample supply to meat processing and export units set up in the country with investment of billions of rupees.
Talking to Business Recorder on Saturday, Saifi claimed that elimination of smuggling of animals will help the formal processing sector to grow and use its full capacity while it will also add to the national exchequer in shape of duties and taxes as well as strengthen the economy due to foreign exchange.
He was of the view that the country can sell processed meat and allied products at higher prices to international markets rather than selling live animals at low value. Only value added products of livestock should be allowed to export. He said the Association has already urged the government to take steps for stopping smuggling of livestock from the country to enable the meat processing and exporting sector fully exploit the opportunities in the multi billion dollars international halal market. He was of the view that smuggling and exports of live animals is a main cause of higher prices of animals too.
Saifi also claimed that billions of rupees were stuck in different Arab countries against the importers and such defaulting companies were not even replying to their letters. He urged the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and other government agencies to take notice of this situation and bring the meat exporting units from the liquidity crunch they were facing because of this default.
He further pointed out unavailability of adequate parking areas suitable for secure parking of chiller vans. "These parking lots are required along docking stations to supply electricity in case of any delay in flight to keep the chilling units of vehicles switched on," he said, and suggested that modern parking areas should be constructed on priority. This will add to the satisfaction of international meat buyers, he claimed.
He also said that meat handling areas at airports should be in good shape and free of pests. A number of complaints have been registered by the exporters in past regarding critical matters of pest damage to meat consignments. He proposed that Animal Quarantine should take necessary steps to safeguard this perishable product in the airport vicinity through interaction with Civil Aviation Authority and freight handlers.