Incompetent businessman leads to restrictions on Pakistan's meat exports to UAE
Business
Gulf State lists special instructions for future imports
LAHORE (Web Desk) – An incompetent person lacking ideas and vision can destroy everything – from a family, office and business to a country. Your surroundings may have several examples.
In a latest case, the Karachi-based company, which sent unhygienic meat to the United Arab Emirates, has led to restrictions on imports from Pakistan.
A notification issued on September 19 by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment says only fresh or chilled meat from Pakistan – vacuum-packed or modified-atmosphere packed with a shelf life of 60 to 120 days – would be allowed into the country.
The restrictions are applicable to the Pakistan’s meat exports by sea and will come into effect from October 10 as the UAE has included 18 companies engaged in meat processing for imports in the list containing the names of the approved slaughterhouses from different countries.
It was earlier reported that the shipment from Pakistan contained meat wrapped in cloth with fungus – again showing how the Pakistani businessmen are unable to maintain quality and follow global standards in their respective industries, making the exports incompatible in world markets.
Pakistan’s annual meat exports to the UAE hovers over $140 million. Although, the country produces around 4.9 million tonnes of meat every year, the exports are less than 100,000 tonnes. The reason is lack of food processing units and related skills.
However, the meat prices have always been higher than the purchasing power of many people in Pakistan with the current record-high inflation making its consumption almost impossible for a sizeable majority.
Pakistan is among those countries where per capital protein consumption is already alarmingly low and reduced purchasing power has been resulting in food insecurity for large population.
Read more: Food prices owing to weaker rupee, supply shortages will push Pakistan inflation: ADB
In a latest report, the Asian Development Bank has warned that the rising food prices would keep the inflation high in Pakistan – at a time when the power and gas tariffs and fuel prices are skyrocketing to the new highs.
