August 27, 2010

Meat prices beyond Pakistanis' reach due to exports

Meat will soon become too expensive for most Pakistanis unless the government steps in to ban exports being done in violation of the rules, an editorial in a Pakistani paper said on Thursday (Aug 26).

"The government should first endeavour to fulfil the needs of the domestic consumers and only after their requirement is met, should exports be allowed," urged the editorial in the Daily Jang.

It cited the Meat Merchants Association, which attributed the steadily rising prices of meat to the large-scale exports as well as smuggling of meat and cattle to Afghanistan, Iran and other countries, with most of the conditions on which the government had allowed export of meat and cattle being flouted by the exporters.

"One key condition was that the exporters could only export cattle they reared themselves and 60% of the meat of the cattle slaughtered in their abattoirs was to be sent to the domestic market. Neither are the exporters following the rule nor are the departments concerned enforcing it with any seriousness," the editorial said.

"And given the rapidly rising prices of meat, it will soon be unaffordable for most sections of the people," the editorial warned.

It said giving "primacy to the interests of the exporters and trading classes over the interests of the common people will result in the same conditions as that happened over the export of wheat."

"Under garb of increased productivity, the bulk of the wheat crop was exported, leading to major shortages across the country," the editorial said, cautioning the country to ensure that the same did not happen with meat.