ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: The Federal Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development has started preparing modalities for export of livestock which was banned in 2004 due to a 40 per cent gap in the domestic production and demand of meat.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has lifted ban on export of “surplus pool of livestock” in its meeting last month, clearing way for the livestock ministry to finalise modalities for export of livestock.

Talking to newsmen at his office here on Tuesday, the minister, Humayun Aziz Kurd, said that the government had lifted ban on the export of surplus pool of livestock and that the decision would not impact the supply of meat in the domestic market.

The new policy, Mr Kurd said, would help generate revenue, earning foreign exchange and most importantly it would be an incentive for livestock farmers. It would also help curb livestock smuggling.

He said the export process would be made simple with less involvement of ministries of livestock and commerce and decreasing official red-tape.

He said the livestock ministry would only determine and announce the overall surplus number of animals to be exported each year.

In order to ensure transparency, no case specific processing will be conducted in the livestock and commerce ministries. The routine standard procedures for export through custom authorities would be followed. There will be no need for getting a no objection certificate (NOC) from any of the ministry.

Commenting on the local market conditions, Mr Kurd said that steps would be taken to ensure that supply and rates of livestock and of meat were not affected in the domestic market with the export of surplus pool.

The livestock ministry has got approval from ECC to export livestock and to increase the quarantine fees from Rs100 to Rs500 per large animal and Rs250 per small animal will be charged which is likely to boost government’s revenue.

The ministry has decided that initially 60 per cent quota of the exportable surplus will only be allocated to commercial livestock farmers.

The commercial livestock farms will be registered by the livestock ministry and overall general quota will be allocated on quarterly basis. The quota will be announced publicly.

The ministry has recommended that export shall be made through standard procedures through customs authorities.