Buffalo Breeders Association (BBA) Pakistan has urged the federal government for reviewing the decision of permitting the duty-free import of milk powder and taking livestock and dairy farmers, most of them very poor and very powerless, in the fold of your Ehsaas program.
In an open letter written to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Association's said that livestock farmers are perturbed on the decision of allowing duty-free import of milk powder.
"This decision, prima facie, is based on the view that post-coronavirus pandemic there shall be an acute shortage of milk in the country. This view is incorrect. Not only in Pakistan but also the world over the supply of fresh milk is in far excess of the demand mainly due to disruption of supply chain caused by lockdowns.
For example, in Pakistan, the demand for fresh milk has shrunk by more than half and consequently, the prices of fresh milk have plunged more than half of what these were during the normal days. Presently the price of fresh milk is hovering around merely Rs 30 to Rs 45 per liter from the normal price of Rs 70 to Rs 90. It is only the packed milk which even in these emergency days is being sold at Rs 150 per liter," the letter added.
The livestock and dairy sector have all along with demanding a total ban on the import of milk powder (including skimmed milk and whey powder). The present rate of 47 percent of customs duty is insufficient to save the livestock and dairy sector and the coronavirus related lockdown has further aggravated the situation.
At this juncture, if the duty-free import of milk powder and the allied items is permitted it would play havoc and be a veritable death knell for the livestock and dairy farmers, and stunted growth of coming generations would be a fait accompli, the letter concluded.