US requests Pakistan to lift ban on import of live animals

Burns assures Dar of releasing next tranche of CSF funds soon.

Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State William J Burns requested Pakistan on Friday to lift a ban on import of live animals from the US.

Islamabad had imposed a ban owing to risks from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.

Burns made the request during a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

“The Deputy Secretary of State expressed the hope that import of live animals from the US will be allowed by the government”, according to an official handout issued by the finance ministry after the meeting. Dar assured Burns that the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) will take and appropriate decision in this regard, it added.

The ministry of national food security has already moved a summary to the ECC, seeking permission to lift ban on import of live animals from the US.

According to officials, the permission would be granted on the condition that animals from only herds with no incidence of BSE in the last 11 years would be imported, and this fact should be certified by US authorities.

It is difficult to detect the disease in live animals because no test for it is currently available in Pakistan. The post-slaughter diagnosis is made through medical examination of brain tissues and other vulnerable body parts like the spinal cord.

CSF funds

Burns assured Dar that the US will release the next tranche of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) during this month. Pakistan is expecting a $380 million tranche out of the outstanding dues of $1.6 billion.

Since 9/11, the US has disbursed over $12 billion on account of CSF. The expenses incurred on war on terrorism are billed to the US.

Dar drew the attention of Burns towards US Exim Bank’s policy of lending to regional countries for a period of 20 years without sovereign guarantee, whereas in the case of Pakistan the lending is being made for only seven years and that too with sovereign guarantee.

The finance minister also urged deputy secretary of state for provision of level playing field by the US banks for global investors to invest in Pakistan.