Move to export livestock to Pakistan hits hurdles

Indian livestock exports to Pakistan have run into trouble even before they have formally commenced.

Pakistan recently opened private import of certain fresh vegetables and livestock via the road route from India.

But while the export of vegetables began last week, shipments of buffaloes, goats and sheep are encountering several hurdles including concerns about maintaining cleanliness at the ceremonial road border at Wagah, west of Amritsar City.

The first-ever Indian exports to Pakistan via the road crossing at Wagah was a surprisingly quiet affair.

Despite the fact that it had taken the two nuclear neighbours more than five decades to open road trade, neither side made any particular fanfare when the first truckloads of fresh Indian garlic were carted into Pakistan early last week.

The exports became possible after a decision by the federal government of Pakistan in May permitting private traders to import fresh garlic, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and livestock for meat. This was part of an effort to meet growing demand and to check rising prices in Pakistan.

But then, just a week after shipments began Indian exporters have already encountered several hurdles filling orders for buffaloes, sheep and goats.

Most of these arise from the fact that Wagah the only road crossing between India and Pakistan has essentially been a ceremonial border, where each evening, armed soldiers from the two sides enact a particularly hostile parade while lowering their respective flags to the sounding of bugles.

Wagah is just not equipped to handle large trade consignments both in terms of space as well as manpower.

Traders in Amritsar City say "the export of live animals will require space for a proper cattle enclosure and facilities to monitor the health of the livestock".

According to one exporter, who has ready orders for 20,000 head of buffalo, goat and sheep, there are as yet no proper quarantine facilities on the Pakistani side of the border.

Rajdeep Uppal said, "the delays though frustrating are understandable since this is the very first time that livestock exports had been permitted."

Uppal said border guards on both sides have also raised concerns about maintaining cleanliness. They fear that the presence of hundreds of live animals would litter the border post with dung and render it unusable for the evening retreat ceremony.

Officials in Amritsar said the problem was discussed at a emergency meeting at the local deputy commissioner's office on Monday evening.

"The possibility of constructing a separate passage for trade is now being considered," an official said.

But even as officials on both sides try and tackle the initial hurdles, traders in Amritsar are very keen to make an early start.

Uppal said he plans to send in what he described as "a small test consignment" early next week to see how things go. He said, "both sides want this and I have been trying to convince everybody that we can deal with problems as and when they crop up".

According to the exporter "while Pakistan is keen to import live cows for beef, traders in India would limit livestock exports to buffaloes, goats and sheep". He said besides legal restrictions on export of cows from India this could also offend religious and political groups.