Livestock export decision angers tanners
05/01/2009
The Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) has strongly opposed a move by the government to allow the export of live animals. As well as hurting the leather industry—which is already working at 55% of capacity because of a shortage of hides and skins—the initiative will also affect ordinary people in Pakistan, the PTA said.
The organisation’s chairman, Agha Saiddain, commented that Pakistan is a “protein-deficient nation”, with low per capita consumption of beef and other meat because prices are too high. Exporting livestock, on the recommendation of the ministry of livestock and dairy development, and of the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock, will make the problem worse, he said.
He suggested that it would be better for the government to set up a chain of up-to-date abbatoirs and export meat from them, but keeping hides and skins on home soil for use by PTA member companies.
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