Pet owners, retailers slam ban on animal food import

Protesters in Karachi term locally available pet food unfit, urge authorities to allow medicated food's import

KARACHI:

Pet owners, retailers, veterinarians and importers on Saturday staged a protest in Karachi against the ban on import of pet food, and asked the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the situation.

The protesters gathered outside the animal care center located in the DHA neighbourhood, holding placards inscribed with slogans against the ban.

Talking to media persons on the occasion, one of the protesters Danish Azhar said a total of 500 types of pet food worth $1 million are imported every year. "It doesn't lay any burden on the foreign reserves," he added.

Azhar further informed that the imported food comprises medicated one too and banning them wouldn't only put the animals at risk but deprive some 1,000 sellers of their livelihoods.

To a question, he said that there were some industries dedicated for the purpose but that they were not up to the mark or inexpensive than the imported items.

He highlighted that using substandard food causes the livestock to fall sick with digestive and other issues.

Sharing his views on the occasion, Muhammad Ali, an importer, said that there was a 10 per cent duty on the import of the food.

"The government should first set up an industry that can prepare pet food and then move to place the ban," he urged.

Owner of a pet, Samar Ghulam Ali confirmed that use of locally made items caused animals to fall sick. "It is imperative to lift the ban forthwith," she maintained.

On Wednesday, the federal government decided to impose a complete ban on the import of unnecessary and luxury items to deal with the country's unsettling economic woes.

The participants of the forum agreed to make tough decisions to deal with the depleting exchange reserves crisis and the falling rupee.

The business community also earlier urged the government to immediately put curbs on the import of luxury goods as the country was heading towards an economic chaos.