The shipment of sheep arrived in Pakistan after being turned away by Bahrain, and livestock officials ordered them to be culled after they tested positive for salmonella and actinomyces bacteria.—AP (File Photo)

KARACHI: Pakistan resumed culling Australian sheep on Friday after the importer withdrew a legal challenge to government claims they are diseased and despite tests showing the animals are fit for human consumption, officials said.

A Pakistani court in Karachi last month halted the culling of 21,000 Australian sheep after 7,600 of the animals had already been killed in a dispute over whether or not they were sick.

The shipment of sheep arrived in Pakistan after being turned away by Bahrain, and livestock officials ordered them to be culled after they tested positive for salmonella and actinomyces bacteria.

Samples from the sheep were sent to a British laboratory and came back clean, clearing the meat for human consumption, but municipal officials in Karachi rejected the tests.

Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who heads the city’s veterinary services, told AFP that authorities had resumed culling the 11,300 sheep on Friday on orders from the government.

“So far, we have culled over 1,500 sheep since this morning. It could take two or three days to complete,” he said.

A spokesman said the Australian High Commission in Islamabad was shocked by the move.

“We’re surprised, we’re shocked by what is apparently the resumption of the culling and we’re trying to find out what is happening,” he told AFP.

The Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward had on Thursday issued a statement welcoming a settlement which he said would allow the Australian merino sheep to be processed as intended after independent tests confirmed the animals were fit for human consumption.

The Pakistani ambassador to Bahrain informed the court in Karachi on Wednesday that Bahraini authorities had refused to accept and returned the consignment from Australia as the herd suffered from Orf disease.

The incident has renewed calls for a total end to Australia’s live export trade, which is worth about US$1 billion a year and employs around 10,000 people.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...