Provincial govt bans export of poultry items

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to ban the export of eggs and other poultry items to Afghanistan in the wake of increasing complaints regarding price hikes.

The decision was taken by the district administration at a meeting held at the District Coordination Office to keep prices under control during the month of Ramazan.

The meeting was chaired by Peshawar District Coordination Officer (DCO) Siraj Ahmed Khan. Assistant Coordination Officer (ACO) Zafar Ali Shah and a number of police officials were also present on the occasion.

According to official sources, the district administration was acting upon several complaints received from local people concerning the rising prices of chicken and eggs. The DCO said strict measures would be taken against those who would violate the decision.

“We have decided to ban the supply of poultry items to Afghanistan, and I have directed the concerned authorities to ensure the implementation of these orders. Those who will not follow the decision would have to pay the consequences,” said Khan.

He added that thousands of eggs and hens were being supplied to Afghanistan, due to which the prices of poultry items was increasing in K-P. He said food department staff had been deployed on different routes to monitor attempts to smuggle these items, adding that he had imposed Section 144 in certain areas as well.

“We have imposed Section 144 till the end of Ramazan, and I have requested the provincial government to impose a ban of cattle export to Afghanistan as well,” he remarked.

Last year, K-P Minister for Livestock Haji Hidayatullah had also demanded a new export policy for Afghanistan. He had said even though the government had put a restriction on the number of animals to be exported, the poultry farmers were not following the orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2011.