PESHAWAR, July 16: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday declared the issuance of permits for export of cattle to Afghanistan by the Pakistan Animal Quarantine Department as illegal and ruled that the authority should be exercised by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in consultation with the Ministry of National Food Security.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Qaiser Rasheed ruled that while issuing the export permit the commerce ministry should consult the food security ministry, which must ensure that the local market demand was satisfied.

The bench ordered that cattle heads should be exported in reasonable quantity so as not to create shortage in the local market.

The court directed the director general livestock department to continue with the help of local police the seizure of cattle smuggled to Afghanistan in accordance with its June 26 orders. It was added that the orders should be implemented otherwise the court would take action against the responsible officers.

The human rights directorate of the court has taken notice of the issue of increase in prices of poultry and cattle smuggling after appearance of a report in different newspapers.

Last year the chief justice had taken suo motu notice of smuggling and illegal transportation of these products to Afghanistan and tribal areas, and suspended all permits issued by the federal government in this regard.

On January 23, the court had vacated that stay order against export of poultry and dairy products to Afghanistan after the Cattle Exporters Association and Khyber Poultry Association filed undertakings that they would be responsible for scarcity and hike in prices of these products in the province.

When the bench took up the case for hearing on Tuesday the counsel for poultry association, Zafar Tahirkheli, stated that the price of broiler chicken was Rs148 per kg which was in the permissible limits set by the court.

Officials of the livestock department stated that cattle were transported to Afghanistan only under valid export permits issued by the quarantine department. The bench inquired under what rules the department could issue the permits as its only responsibility was to give fitness certificate about cattle. The bench ruled that under the rules the quarantine department was not authorised to issue export permit for cattle.

Meanwhile, the court also issued notices to the provincial secretary and director food department, asking them to show cause why substandard drinks, sweets, food items and other commodities were being sold in the province and how many cases they had detected so far.

The bench observed that it was reported to the court that milk provided by milk suppliers was contaminated and contained dangerous chemicals mixed with it to maintain its thickness. It noted that so far no one was booked for this crime.

The bench asked the director general livestock to carry out market survey of beef, mutton and poultry products on regular basis and submit report on July 21, the next date of hearing. The court ordered that the chief secretary should submit a report and explain whether vigilance committees were constituted for checking the cattle smuggling.