'Smuggling of animals harming livestock sector'

LAHORE: The world is looking towards Pakistan due to its large size of animal population but unfortunately a large number of animals are being smuggled to Afghanistan and other neighouring countries which is damaging the livestock sector.

This was stated by Vice Chancellor of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Prof.Talat Naseer Pasha while speaking at a meeting on Monday on univrsity campus.

He said the smuggling of animals was posing a serious threat to Pakistan's leather industry as well. He suggested disease control of animals for a sustained mutton and beef value chain and viable meat production at local level.

Prof Pasha called for both short and long term approaches for breed and genetic improvement of animals to improve their productivity in the country.

The VC was of views that rising prices of meat were the major reason of smuggling of animals and poor control of local governments over the pricing of meat in the country. It also scares away foreign investment, he added.