December 31, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 26, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The National Assembly has asked the Ministry of Commerce to take measures for discouraging the massive export of meat.

Official sources told Dawn on Monday that a written question was sent to the ministry for seeking their intervention into the matter.

The exporters have earning exorbitant prices on the export of meat to neighbouring countries especially to Afghanistan. The shortage of meat was felt in Pakistan following the decrease of animal imports from India due the presence of military forces at the borders.

On the other hand, some locals were also involved in the smuggling of meat to Afghanistan through the porous border between the two countries. The massive meat export resulted into shortage in the local market due to which its prices shoot up.

According to the sources the issue would be taken for consideration in the next meeting of Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

It was expected that the government would levy duty on export of meat to discourage its exports, said the official.