All Pakistan Meat Processors & Exporters Association (APMPEA) Chairman Nasib Ahmad Saifi has claimed that an opportunity has emerged for Pakistani halal meat exporters to capture Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iranian markets as Kuwait slapped a ban on some big Indian exporters due to substandard meat.
Talking to Business Recorder on Wednesday, Saifi alleged that some big companies which were supplying frozen and chilled meat and live buffaloes to Kuwait, Saudia and other countries had to face a ban due to substandard meat. He claimed that these companies were exporting some 200 tons of chilled meat per day to Saudi Arabia only and the ban has produced a big cushion for Pakistani meat processors and exporters.
According to him, Pakistan can easily enhance its halal meat exports by US2 billion dollars per annum with a little marketing push and support from the government Pakistan to the local exporters. He said this is the time that delegation of Pakistan halal meat exporters should be sent to these countries with meetings with big importers to fetch precious orders.
Saifi also said that the government has to give incentives to the exporters to materialize the opportunity. In his opinion the exporters should be given 8-10 percent rebate on export proceeds. He claimed that the Indian government was providing a rebate of 2 percent on air-fare and eight per cent on exports to Indian exporters.
The Chairman further said that prices of electricity and gas have been doubled in the present regime while taxes rates have also been enhanced. He said the government should not treat the exporting sector like this. He was of the view that utility charges and taxes should be reduced for the exporters so that they can penetrate in the international market and compete with other countries.