by Amir Sial
United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has lifted the 8-year old ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from Pakistan. This was announced by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday after the receipt of formal communications of the ban lifting.
The UAE has granted permission to import day-old chicks and hatching eggs from the companies which are certified for export ministry and possessing attached health certificates, permission to import poultry meat and its products from the slaughterhouses that are certified for export by the UAE as per procedures followed in this regard and health certificate.
Pakistan is a major meat exporter to the UAE and is branding itself as a hub for Halal meat, including poultry, beef and veal. The meat comes from animals that are slaughtered following the Islamic method of slaughtering. The lifting of the ban will result in poultry exports to touch $200 million a year.
The UAE annually imports more than $700million of poultry products, a market from which Pakistan was barred for 8 years. The lifting of the ban will open this market for Pakistan exporters, who have made commendable technological progress in the recent years. The ban was placed in 2005 and has since resulted in a loss worth half a billion dollars.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said, “Pakistan appreciates the lifting of ban on poultry by our longstanding trading partner and brotherly nation UAE”. The minister appreciated the cooperation extended by Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan.
Dastgir lauded the efforts of Pakistan Ambassador to UAE Moazzam Ahmad Khan and Pakistan Department for Plant Protection; he acknowledged Pakistan Poultry Association for their professional support during a recent visit to Pakistan by the UAE poultry inspectors.
