LAHORE: Domestic processors of poultry meat are disadvantaged by subsidised and zero rated imports of stunned meat from Malaysia, while domestic processors pay duties and sales tax on import of their inputs.
Poultry meat is allowed to be imported from India at 5 percent duty while it is not possible for Pakistan to export poultry to India as it has been placed by the Indians on sensitive list.
Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association’s Standing Committee Khalil Sattar stated this while addressing a meeting at his K&N chicken processing plant here on Monday. He said that the government granted zero rated access to Malaysian processed chicken without consulting the poultry industry.
Besides, he added that it is unfair with the Pakistani processors that they have to pay duties and sales tax on inputs like spices and packing materials.
He said that Malaysia grants 15 percent rebate on export of processed chicken which makes it cheaper than Pakistani processed meat. Moreover he added slaughtering animals in the same portion where non Halal animals are also slaughtered is banned under sharia, while this is a practice in China.
In addition he added that there is no guarantee that poultry feed consumed by poultry birds is not contaminated with elements from pig wastage, he concluded.
