LCCI calls for withdrawal of increase in quarantine rates

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for an immediate withdrawal of sharp increase in the quarantine rates, a statement said on Friday.
LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said despite the fact that Indian quarantine is free of charge, the authorities in Pakistan have made and exorbitant increase in the quarantine rates. He said livestock exports that were started in 2013 after a gap of nine years would suffer a deadly blow because of the SRO issued on March 31, 2015.
As far as livestock exports are concerned, a total of 8,995 buffaloes/cattle and 4,880 sheep/goats were exported for meat purpose during July 2013 to September 30, 2013. Apart from animal exports, 58,730 metric tons of meat and meat preparations were exported during 2013-14 which fetched US$ 177.5 million. This meat was exported from 29 private sector slaughterhouses registered with the Animal Quarantine Department (AQD). During the same period, export facilitations were also provided for livestock by-products like animal casing, bones, horns and hooves and gelatine that fetched US$ 50 million.
Similarly, poultry sector is one of the most important and vibrant segments of agriculture in Pakistan. This sector has contributed 1.3 percent to GDP during 2013-14 while its contribution in agriculture and livestock value addition remained at 6.1 percent and 10.8 percent respectively.
During 2013-14, the AQD provided quarantine services and issued 32,833 health certificates for the export of live animals, mutton, beef, eggs and other livestock products having value of more than US$ 230 million.
Keeping the abovementioned details in mind it would be very harsh to raise the rates of animal quarantine i.e. Animal (dairy) from Rs.100/animal to Rs.3,000/animal, animal (meat purpose) from Rs.500/animal to Rs.2,000/animal, meat (mutton- chilled) from Rs.40/carcase to Rs.50/carcase, meat (beef- chilled) from Rs.60/quarter to Rs.150/quarter, meat (mutton/Beef- frozen) from Rs.250/up to 100 cartons to Rs.250/up to 25 cartons, poultry meat from Rs.250/up to 100 cartons to Rs.100/carton (of 18-20kg), poultry eggs (GP) from Rs.250 up to 200 cartons to Rs.250/cartons, poultry eggs (table) from Rs.250 up to 200 cartons to Rs.250/cartons and day old chicks from Rs.15/up to 100 chicks to Rs.200/up to 100 chicks, etc.